U.S. patent application number 14/200081 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-02 for rotary cabonator.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Coca-Cola Company. Invention is credited to Ian Stewart Fitzpatrick, Jonathan Kirschner, William J. Moore, Victor Henry Quittner.
Application Number | 20160152460 14/200081 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54016673 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160152460 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Quittner; Victor Henry ; et
al. |
June 2, 2016 |
Rotary Cabonator
Abstract
The present application provides a rotary carbonator for use
with a beverage dispensing system. The rotary carbonator may
include an off-center carbonator chamber, a rotor positioned within
the off-center carbonator chamber, and a number of vanes extending
from the rotor. The vanes may define within the off-center
carbonator chamber a first number of vane cavities with an
increasing area and a second number of vane cavities with a
decreasing area. A water inlet and a gas inlet may be positioned
about the first vane cavities and a carbonated water outlet may be
positioned about the second vane cavities.
Inventors: |
Quittner; Victor Henry;
(Brighton East, AU) ; Moore; William J.; (Lilburn,
GA) ; Kirschner; Jonathan; (Powder Springs, GA)
; Fitzpatrick; Ian Stewart; (Elwood, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Coca-Cola Company |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150251889 A1 |
September 10, 2015 |
|
|
Family ID: |
54016673 |
Appl. No.: |
14/200081 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61781082 |
Mar 14, 2013 |
|
|
|
61860286 |
Jul 31, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/129.1 ;
261/83; 417/374; 426/67 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 1/0021 20130101;
B67D 1/007 20130101; B01F 3/04815 20130101; B01F 2215/0022
20130101; A23V 2002/00 20130101; F04B 9/02 20130101; B01F 3/04808
20130101; A23L 2/54 20130101; F04C 2210/208 20130101; F04C 2/344
20130101; B01F 3/04439 20130101; B01F 3/04985 20130101; F04C
2210/222 20130101; F04C 2210/24 20130101; B01F 5/145 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B67D 1/00 20060101
B67D001/00; F04B 9/02 20060101 F04B009/02; B01F 3/04 20060101
B01F003/04; A23L 2/54 20060101 A23L002/54 |
Claims
1. A rotary carbonator for use with a beverage dispensing system,
comprising: an off-center carbonator chamber; a rotor positioned
within the off-center carbonator chamber; a plurality of vanes
extending from the rotor; the plurality of vanes defining within
the off-center carbonator chamber a first plurality of vane
cavities with an increasing area and a second plurality of vane
cavities with a decreasing area; a water inlet and a gas inlet
positioned about the first plurality of vane cavities; and a
carbonated water outlet positioned about the second plurality of
vane cavities.
2. The rotary carbonator of claim 1, further comprising a drive
motor.
3. The rotary carbonator of claim 2, further comprising a magnetic
coupling positioned about the drive motor.
4. The rotary carbonator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes
comprises a plurality of opposed pairs and wherein the plurality of
opposed pairs comprises a spring therebetween.
5. The rotary carbonator of claim 1, further comprising a stator
and wherein the rotor and the stator define the off-center
carbonator chamber.
6. The rotary carbonator of claim 5, wherein an interior surface of
the stator comprises a plurality of radii of curvature.
7. The rotary carbonator of claim 5, wherein an exterior of the
stator comprises a stator water pathway of the water inlet, a
stator gas pathway of the gas inlet, and a stator carbonated water
pathway of the carbonated water outlet.
8. The rotary carbonator of claim 1, wherein the off-center
carbonator chamber comprises a rear chamber plate and a front
chamber plate.
9. The rotary carbonator of claim 8, wherein the rear chamber plate
and the front chamber plate comprise a plate water pathway of the
water inlet, a plate gas pathway of the gas inlet, and a plate
carbonated water pathway of the carbonated water outlet.
10. The rotary carbonator of claim 1, further comprising a pump
housing surrounding the off-center carbonator chamber.
11. The rotary carbonator of claim 10, wherein the pump housing
comprises a housing water pathway of the water inlet, a housing gas
pathway of the gas inlet, and a housing carbonated water pathway of
the carbonated water outlet.
12. The rotary carbonator of claim 10, wherein the pump housing
comprises a housing plate.
13. The rotary carbonator of claim 1, wherein the first plurality
of vane cavities comprises a first quadrant with the water inlet
and a second quadrant with the gas inlet.
14. The rotary carbonator of claim 13, wherein the second plurality
of vane cavities comprises a third quadrant and a fourth quadrant
with the carbonated water outlet.
15. A method of carbonating water on demand, comprising: rotating a
plurality of sliding vanes in an off-center carbonator chamber;
wherein the plurality of sliding vanes defines a first plurality of
vane cavities with an increasing area and a second plurality of
vane cavities with a decreasing area; flowing water into the first
plurality of vane cavities; flowing carbon dioxide into the first
plurality of vane cavities; mixing the water and the carbon dioxide
in the second plurality of vane cavities; and flowing carbonated
water out of the second plurality of vane cavities.
16. A beverage dispensing system, comprising: a nozzle; one or more
concentrates in communication with the nozzle; and a rotary
carbonator producing a flow of carbonated water in communication
with the nozzle.
17. The beverage dispenser of claim 16, wherein the rotary
carbonator comprises an off-center carbonator chamber with a
plurality of sliding vanes therein.
18. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the rotary
carbonator comprises a Wankel engine like pump.
19. A positive displacement pump for use with a flow of water and a
flow of carbon dioxide to form a flow of carbonated water,
comprising: a water cylinder with a water piston therein to meter a
portion of the flow of water; a carbon dioxide cylinder with a
carbon dioxide piston therein to meter a portion of the flow of
carbon dioxide; a mixing cylinder with a mixing piston therein to
mix the flow of water from the water cylinder and the flow of
carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide cylinder to form the flow of
carbonated water; and a crankshaft to maneuver the pistons.
20. The positive displacement pump of claim 19, further comprising
a drive motor in communication with the crankshaft.
21. The positive displacement pump of claim 19, further comprising
a water inlet line with a water inlet valve in communication with
the water cylinder.
22. The positive displacement pump of claim 19, further comprising
a water outlet line with a water outlet valve in communication with
the water cylinder and the mixing cylinder.
23. The positive displacement pump of claim 19, further comprising
a gas inlet line with a gas inlet valve in communication with the
carbon dioxide cylinder.
24. The positive displacement pump of claim 19, further comprising
a gas outlet line with a gas outlet valve in communication with the
carbon dioxide cylinder and the mixing cylinder.
25. The positive displacement pump of claim 19, further comprising
a carbonated water outlet line with a carbonated water outlet valve
in communication with the mixing cylinder.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from provisional
application Ser. No. 61/781,082, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, and
provisional application Ser. No. 61/860,286, filed on Jul. 31,
2013. Ser. Nos. 61/781,082 and 61/860,286 are incorporated herein
by reference in full.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present application and the resultant patent relate
generally to beverage dispensers and more particularly relate to
beverage dispensers with a rotary carbonator for high quality,
on-demand carbonated water with a reduced overall footprint.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Beverage dispensers for soft drinks and other types of
carbonated beverages generally mix syrups and/or other types of
concentrates with carbonated water to produce the beverage. The
beverage dispenser therefore may include a carbonator tank to
produce and store the carbonated water. Generally described, plain
water may be pumped to the carbonator tank so as to mix with a flow
of pressurized carbon dioxide gas. The carbonated water may flow to
a cold plate and then to a nozzle for mixing with the concentrate
or other ingredients. Various types of flow control devices also
may be used. The carbonator tank, the related plumbing, and the
flow control devices may be relatively expensive and may take up a
considerable amount of space within the beverage dispenser.
[0004] The typical duty cycle of the beverage dispenser also may
have an impact on the quality of the carbonated water produced by
the carbonator tank. In a low duty cycle, the carbonated water may
sit in the carbonator tank for an extended period of time and may
become stale. In a high duty cycle, the water and the carbon
dioxide may mix in the carbonator tank for only a short amount of
time such that the carbon dioxide may escape upon exiting the
nozzle.
[0005] There is thus a desire for an improved carbonator for use
with beverage dispensers and the like. Preferably such a carbonator
may produce a supply of high quality, on demand carbonated water
while being smaller and less expensive than known devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present application and the resultant patent provide a
rotary carbonator for use with a beverage dispensing system. The
rotary carbonator may include an off-center carbonator chamber, a
rotor positioned within the off-center carbonator chamber, and a
number of vanes extending from the rotor. The vanes may define
within the off-center carbonator chamber a first number of vane
cavities with an increasing area and a second number of vane
cavities with a decreasing area. A water inlet and a gas inlet may
be positioned about the first vane cavities and a carbonated water
outlet may be positioned about the second vane cavities. The rotary
carbonator thus produces high quality and on demand carbonated
water.
[0007] The present application and the resultant patent further
provide a method of carbonating water on demand. The method may
include the steps of rotating a number of sliding vanes in an
off-center carbonator chamber such that the sliding vanes define a
first number of vane cavities with an increasing area and a second
number of vane cavities with a decreasing area, flowing water into
the first vane cavities, flowing carbon dioxide into the first vane
cavities, mixing the water and the carbon dioxide in the second
vane cavities, and then flowing the resultant carbonated water out
of the second vane cavities.
[0008] The present application and the resultant patent further
provide a beverage dispensing system. The beverage dispensing
system may include a nozzle, one or more concentrates in
communication with the nozzle, and a rotary carbonator for
producing a flow of carbonated water in communication with the
nozzle.
[0009] The present application and the resultant patent further
provide a positive displacement pump for use with a flow of water
and a flow of carbon dioxide to form a flow of carbonated water.
The positive displacement pump may include a water cylinder with a
water piston therein to meter a portion of the flow of water, a
carbon dioxide cylinder with a carbon dioxide piston therein to
meter a portion of the flow of carbon dioxide, a mixing cylinder
with a mixing piston therein to mix the flow of water from the
water cylinder and the flow of carbon dioxide from the carbon
dioxide cylinder to form the flow of carbonated water, and a
crankshaft to maneuver the pistons.
[0010] These and other features and improvements of the present
application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and
the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a known beverage dispensing
system with a carbonator tank.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a beverage dispensing
system with a rotary carbonator as may be described herein.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotary carbonator of
FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the rotary carbonator of FIG.
2.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the rotary carbonator of
FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the
rotary carbonator of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment
of a rotary carbonator as may be described herein.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a beverage dispensing
system with an alternative embodiment of a positive displacement
pump in the form of a piston pump as may be described herein.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the positive
displacement pump of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer
to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a
schematic diagram of an example of a known beverage dispensing
system 10. Generally described, the beverage dispensing system 10
includes a carbonator tank 20. The carbonator tank 20 may mix a
flow of plain water 30 from a pump 40 or otherwise with a
pressurized flow of carbon dioxide 50. The carbon dioxide 50 may
dissolve within the plain water 30 within the carbonator tank 20 to
produce carbonated water 60. The carbonated water 60 may flow
through a cold plate or other type of a heat exchanger 65 to a
nozzle 70. Various types of flow control devices 80 also may be
used herein. The carbonated water 60 may mix with one or more
concentrates 90 and/or other ingredients within or about the nozzle
70 to create a beverage 95. The beverage dispensing system 10
described herein is for the purpose of example only. Beverage
dispensing systems with many other components and configurations
may be used.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a beverage dispensing
system 100 as may be described herein. Instead of using the
carbonator tank 20, the pump 40, and perhaps the flow control
device 80, the beverage dispensing system 100 may use a rotary
carbonator 110. The rotary carbonator 110 may be driven by an
electrical motor 120 or other type of drive mechanism. The
electrical motor 120 may be conventional AC motor and the like.
Alternatives also include a brushless DC motor and the like. Such a
brushless DC motor may have direct-off-mains controllers for high
starting torque. The rotary carbonator 110 mixes the flow of plain
water 30 and the pressurized flow of carbon dioxide 50 to form the
carbonated water 60. The carbonated water 60 then may pass through
the heat exchanger 65 and mix with the concentrates 90 and/or other
ingredients at the nozzle 70 to produce the beverage 95. The rotary
carbonator 110 also may be incorporated into the nozzle 70 or may
be positioned elsewhere in the beverage dispensing system 110.
[0022] FIGS. 3-5 show an example of the rotary carbonator 110. The
rotary carbonator 110 may be a type of positive displacement pump
130 and the like. More particularly, the positive displacement pump
130 may be a type of rotary vane pump 140. The rotary vane pump 140
may be in communication with the flow of plain water 30 and the
flow of carbon dioxide 50 as is described above. The rotary vane
pump 140 may have any size, shape, or configuration.
[0023] Generally described, the rotary carbonator 110 may include a
circular rotor 150. The circular rotor 150 may have a number of
sliding vanes 160 positioned therein. Each pair of opposed vanes
160 may be connected via a spring 170 or other type of linkage.
Alternatively, each vane 160 may have an independent spring 170.
Any number of the vanes 160 may be used herein. Although the vanes
160 are shown as being straight or radial from the rotor 150, the
vanes 160 also may have a leading angle. Such a leading angle may
assist in adding a component of sealing force via the rotational
force. Any angle may be used herein The rotor 150 also may include
a drive shaft 180 extending therefrom in communication with the
electrical motor 120 or other type of drive mechanism.
[0024] The rotary vane pump 140 may also include a stator 190 such
that the rotor 150 may rotate within the stator 190. The rotor 150
and the stator 190 may have any size, shape, or configuration. In
operation, the sliding vanes 160 may be forced in an outward radial
direction against an interior 195 of the stator 190 via centrifugal
force. Further, the springs 170 may be utilized in forming a tight
seal between the sliding vanes 160 and the stator 190. Good sealing
therein may assist in creating the carbonated water 60. The springs
170 also may assist during startup and shutdown when the
centrifugal forces may be reduced.
[0025] The rotor 150 and the stator 190 may define an off-center
carbonator chamber 200 therebetween so as to mix the flows of water
30 and gas 50 to produce the carbonated water 60. The stator 190
and the off-center carbonator chamber 200 may have varying radii of
curvature therein. Specifically, the interior surface 195 of the
stator 190 may define the varying radii of curvature. The stator
190 also may have an exterior surface 210. The exterior surface 210
may define a stator water pathway 220, a stator gas pathway 230,
and a stator carbonated water 240 formed therein. The off-center
carbonator chamber 200 may be enclosed by a rear chamber plate 250
and a front chamber plate 260. The chamber plates 250, 260 both may
have a plate water pathway 270 that aligns with the stator water
pathway 220, a plate gas pathway 280 that aligns with the stator
gas pathway 230, and a carbonated water pathway 290 that aligns
with the stator carbonated water pathway 240. Other components and
other configurations may be used herein.
[0026] The rotor 150 and the stator 190 may be positioned within a
pump housing 300. The pump housing 300 may include a housing
aperture 310 extending therethrough and sized for the stator 190.
The pump housing 300 may include a housing water pathway 320 that
aligns with the stator water pathway 220 and the plate water
pathways 270 to form a water inlet 325, a housing gas pathway 330
that aligns with the stator gas pathway 230 and the plate gas
pathways 280 to form a gas inlet 335, and a housing carbonated
water pathway 340 that aligns with the stator carbonated water
pathway 240 and the plate carbonated pathways 290 to form a
carbonated water outlet 345. The pump housing 300 may have any
size, shape, or configuration. The pump housing 300 may be enclosed
by a housing plate 350 and a seal 360 via a number of fasteners.
The seal 360 may be a conventional O-ring seal and the like. The
pump housing 300 may have any size, shape, or configuration.
[0027] As described above, the rotary vane pump 140 may be driven
by the motor 120. The connection with the motor 120 may be
magnetic. Specifically, the drive shaft 180 of the rotor 150 may
align with a magnetic coupling 370. The magnetic coupling 370 may
be enclosed by a cap 380 and driven by the motor 120. Other types
of drive mechanisms may be used herein. For example, the magnetic
coupling 370 may be part of the electrical motor 120 itself when
using the brushless DC motor and the like.
[0028] The vanes 160 may be made from a graphite material and the
like. The graphite material may be substantially self-lubricating
with a low wear rate. The rotor 150, the stator 190, and the
related components may be made from a stainless steel or a
thermoplastic with good mechanical and thermal properties such as
PEEK (polyetheretherketone). Other types of materials may be used
herein. The components may be machined or molded in a conventional
manner or produced by three-dimensional printing techniques and the
like. Other types of construction techniques may be used
herein.
[0029] As is shown in FIG. 6, the off-center carbonator chamber 200
may be divided into a number of quadrants of differing sizes and
shapes. By way of example, a first quadrant 400 may include the
water inlet 325, a second quadrant 410 may include the gas inlet
335, a third quadrant 420 may be enclosed, and a fourth quadrant
430 may include the carbonated water outlet 345. The positioning of
the inlets and the outlet in the quadrants may vary. The vanes 160,
in turn, may divide the quadrants into a number of vane cavities
440.
[0030] In use, the vane cavities 440 in the first quadrant 400 and
the second quadrant 410 become progressively larger in area. As the
vane cavities 440 become larger in area, a negative pressure may be
created that draws the flow of water 30 through the water inlet 325
in the first quadrant 400. Likewise, the vane cavities 440 in the
second quadrant 410 also continue to get progressively larger in
area. The flow of carbon dioxide 50 enters the second quadrant 410
via the gas inlet 335. The volume of the carbon dioxide 50 injected
into the vane cavities 440 of the second quadrant 410 may be
substantially equal to the volume of the vane cavities 440 in the
second quadrant 410 minus the volume of the vane cavities 440 in
the first quadrant 400. The water 30 and the carbon dioxide 50 may
begin to mix within the vane cavities 440 of the second quadrant
410.
[0031] As the rotor 150 continues to rotate, the water 30 and the
carbon dioxide 50 pass into vane cavities 440 of the third quadrant
420. The vane cavities 440 of the third quadrant 420 and the fourth
quadrant 430 become progressively smaller in area. Because the
water 30 is incompressible and the carbon dioxide 50 can only
compress to a given extent, the carbon dioxide 50 will be forced
into a solution with the water 30 to create the carbonated water
60. The vane cavities 440 also promote turbulence therein which
further promotes good mixing. By the time the carbonated water 60
exits the third quadrant 420, most of the carbon dioxide 50 may be
dissolved into the water 30. The carbonated water 60 then
progresses to the fourth quadrant 430. The vane cavities 440 of the
fourth quadrant 430 continue to get progressively smaller in area.
The fourth quadrant 430 may be in communication with the carbonated
water outlet 345. The progressive reduction in the size of the vane
cavities 440 in the fourth quadrant 430 provides a pumping action
that forces the carbonated water 60 out of the carbonated water
outlet 340. The carbonated water 60 may have about six (6) to about
ten (10) volumes of carbon dioxide therein although the amount of
carbonation may vary as desired.
[0032] The carbonated water 60 then may flow through the heat
exchanger 65 and to the nozzle 70 where the carbonated water 60 may
be mixed with the concentrates 90 and/or other ingredients to form
the beverage 95. The rotational velocity of the rotor 150 may be
used to control the volumetric flow rate therethrough so as to
eliminate or reduce the need for a flow control device. The
rotational velocity of the rotor 150 thus may be varied. Other
components and other configurations also may be used herein.
[0033] Although the off-center carbonator chamber 200 has been
defined in terms of the four quadrants described above, the
carbonator chamber 200 may be divided into any number of sections
with any number of the vane cavities 440 therein. The flow of water
30 and the flow of carbon dioxide 50 may be mixed in any order.
Given such, the water inlet 325 may be positioned in the second
quadrant 410 while the gas inlet 335 may be positioned in the first
quadrant 400 or elsewhere. The inlets 325, 335 and the outlet 345
may be "point" ports. A point port may be a hole or an opening that
allows a fluid to enter a chamber. The point ports also may span a
larger portion of the carbonator chamber 200 or span multiple vane
cavities 440. A larger opening may help to minimize a pressure drop
thereacross. Multiple rotary carbonators 100 also may be used
together, in parallel or in series (cascading).
[0034] As described above, the radius of curvature within each vane
chamber 440 may vary. For example, in cavities or quadrants where
compression or expansion occurs, the radius of curvature may
increase or decrease. For example, a vane chamber 440 that causes
compression may have a radius of curvature that decreases. A vane
chamber 440 with a constant pressure may have a more constant or
somewhat increasing radius of curvature.
[0035] The rotary carbonator 110 thus provides on demand carbonated
water 60. The rotary carbonator 110 provides both increased drink
quality overall and from pour to pour via the on demand production.
Moreover, the rotary carbonator 110 may provide cost savings and
space savings via the elimination of the carbonator tank 220 and
the flow control device 80 and the like. Other components and other
configurations may be used herein.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment
of a rotary carbonator 600. Similar to that described above, the
rotary carbonator 600 may be a type of a positive displacement pump
610 and the like. More particularly, the positive displacement pump
610 may be a Wankel engine like pump 620. The Wankel engine like
pump 620 may include an oval shaped housing 630. The housing 630
may have any size, shape, or configuration. The oval shaped housing
630 may include a water inlet 640, a gas inlet 650, and a
carbonated water outlet 660. The inlets 640, 650 and the outlet 660
may have varying positions. Additional inlet and outlets also may
be used. Positioned within the housing 630 may be a three sided
symmetric rotor 670. The three sided symmetric rotor 670 may have
any size, shape, or configuration. The three sided symmetric rotor
670 may be engaged with an eccentric shaft 680 for rotation
therewith. Other components and other configurations may be used
herein.
[0037] In use, the flow of water 30 and the flow of carbon dioxide
50 pass through the inlets 640, 650. The flows 30, 50 may be
compressed as the area between the housing 630 and the three sided
symmetrical rotor 670 becomes increasingly smaller. After
compression, the flow of carbonated water 60 thus may leave the
housing 630 via the carbonated water outlets 660. Other components
and other configurations may be used herein.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative
embodiment of a beverage dispensing system 700 as may be described
herein. Instead of using the pump 40 and perhaps the flow control
device 80 of FIG. 1, the beverage dispensing system 700 may use a
further embodiment of a positive displacement pump 720. In this
example, FIG. 9 shows an example of the positive displacement pump
720 as a type of a piston pump 730. The piston pump 730 may be in
communication with the flow of plain water 30 and the flow of
carbon dioxide 50 as described above.
[0039] The piston pump 730 may have any size, shape, or
configuration. Generally described, the piston pump 730 may include
a crankshaft 740. The crankshaft 740 may be driven by a drive motor
750. The drive motor 750 may be a conventional AC motor and the
like. Other types of drive devices may be used herein. The piston
pump 730 may include a block 760 with a number of cylinders 770
formed therein. In this example, a first cylinder 770, a second
cylinder 780, and a third cylinder 790 may be used. Any number of
cylinders may be used herein. Each cylinder may have a piston 800
therein driven by the crankshaft 740. The first cylinder 770 may be
a water cylinder in communication with a water inlet line 810 with
a water inlet valve 820. The first cylinder 770 also may be in
communication with a water outlet line 830 with a water outlet
valve 840. The water outlet line 830 may be in communication with
the third cylinder 790. The second cylinder 780 may be a carbon
dioxide cylinder in communication with a gas inlet line 850 with a
gas inlet valve 860. The second cylinder 780 also may be in
communication with a gas outlet line 870 with a gas outlet valve
880. The gas outlet line 870 also may be in communication with the
third cylinder 790. The third cylinder 790 may be a mixing cylinder
and may be in communication with the water outlet line 830 and the
gas outlet line 870. The third cylinder 790 also may have a
carbonated water outlet line 890 with a carbonated water outlet
valve 900 thereon. The cylinders may have varying sizes. Other
components and other configurations may be used herein.
[0040] In use, the water inlet valve 820 and the gas inlet valve
860 may be used to meter the incoming flows of water 30 and carbon
dioxide 50 into the first cylinder 770 and the second cylinder 780.
The water outlet valve 840 and the gas outlet valve 880 also may be
used to meter the flow of water 30 and carbon dioxide 50 from the
first cylinder 770 and the second cylinder 780 to the third
cylinder 790. The drive motor 750 thus drives the crankshaft 740 so
as to cause the pistons 800 to reciprocate. The down-stroke of the
pistons 800 in the first cylinder 770 and the second cylinder 780
may allow a portion of the flows of water 30 and carbon dioxide 50
to enter therein. During the upstroke of the pistons 800, the
pistons 800 may force the metered portions of the water 30 and the
carbon dioxide 50 into the third cylinder 790 so as to mix and form
the carbonated water 60 therein.
[0041] The carbonated water 60 then may flow to the carbonator tank
20 until a beverage is dispensed. The pressure inside the
carbonator tank 20 may be lower as compared to a standard tank. A
standard tank generally uses the higher pressure to force the
carbon dioxide into solution. Instead, the piston 800 in the third
cylinder 790 forces the carbon dioxide into solution. The
carbonator tank 20 thus may act as a holding tank with sufficient
pressure to keep the carbon dioxide in solution.
[0042] The use of the various valves also may allow for control of
the amount of carbon dioxide in solution. For example, the flows of
water 30 and carbon dioxide 50 may only enter the first cylinder
770 and the second cylinder 780 on every other down-stroke so as to
allow compression in the third cylinder 790 twice. This multiple
compression may allow for more carbon dioxide to be forced into
solution. Moreover, the extra compression may help stabilize the
solution so as to minimize escape of the carbon dioxide.
[0043] The piston pump 730 as the positive displacement pump 720 of
the beverage dispensing system 700 thus provides on demand
carbonated water 60. The piston pump 730 provides both increased
drink quality overall and from pour to pour via the on demand
production. Moreover, the piston pump 730 may provide cost saving
and space savings through the use of a smaller carbonator tank 20
and the elimination of flow control devices and the like.
[0044] In addition to the examples of the positive displacement
pump described herein, other types also may be used herein. For
example, the positive displacement pump may take the form of a gear
pump, a screw pump, a plunger pump, and the like. Any type of pump
where water and carbon dioxide may be compressed and forced into
solution before being discharged may be used herein. Combinations
of different pumps also may be used herein together. Other
components and other configurations may be used herein.
[0045] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to
certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant
patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by
one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following
claims and the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *