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WO1999036346A1 - Appareil d'apport de liquide gazeifie et carbonateur a boissons - Google Patents

Appareil d'apport de liquide gazeifie et carbonateur a boissons Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999036346A1
WO1999036346A1 PCT/GB1999/000082 GB9900082W WO9936346A1 WO 1999036346 A1 WO1999036346 A1 WO 1999036346A1 GB 9900082 W GB9900082 W GB 9900082W WO 9936346 A1 WO9936346 A1 WO 9936346A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
conduit
chamber
gas
circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1999/000082
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael Frederick Scarffe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Welbilt Halesowen Ltd
Original Assignee
Whitlenge Drink Equipment Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whitlenge Drink Equipment Ltd filed Critical Whitlenge Drink Equipment Ltd
Priority to AU20649/99A priority Critical patent/AU2064999A/en
Priority to EP99901015A priority patent/EP1047624B1/fr
Priority to DE69912095T priority patent/DE69912095D1/de
Publication of WO1999036346A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999036346A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
    • B67D1/0057—Carbonators
    • B67D1/0069—Details
    • B67D1/0071—Carbonating by injecting CO2 in the liquid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0042—Details of specific parts of the dispensers
    • B67D1/0057—Carbonators

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus for enhancing mixing of a liquid and a gas, and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for enhancing mixing of a potable liquid and a carbonating gas therefor, as in a beverage carbonator.
  • Apparatus of this type is of course well known, and hitherto has comprised a chamber in which the potable liquid is stored, there being provided a space in the chamber above the level of the liquid in which a quantity of pressurised gas, usually carbon dioxide, is maintained, such that a state of equilibrium is achieved whereby the required amount of carbon dioxide is dissolved in the liquid to provide the appropriate degree of carbonation.
  • a quantity of pressurised gas usually carbon dioxide
  • the liquid is agitated by mechanical means such as an impeller, located towards the bottom of the chamber, so that the liquid may circulate freely and evenly around cooling elements located within the chamber, and also so that the degree of carbonation is substantially even throughout the liquid.
  • mechanical means such as an impeller, located towards the bottom of the chamber, so that the liquid may circulate freely and evenly around cooling elements located within the chamber, and also so that the degree of carbonation is substantially even throughout the liquid.
  • apparatus for the delivery of a gassified liquid comprising a chamber for receiving the liquid and gas, a space being provided above the level of the liquid in which a supply of free gas is maintained, a conduit extending into the chamber and passing through said space to a position below said level through which liquid may be fed into the chamber to enter the chamber below the level, the conduit comprising gas inlet means whereby liquid flowing through the conduit entrains gas from the space.
  • the conduit may be used to supply "fresh" (ungassified) liquid to the chamber, or the conduit may form part of a circuit whereby the liquid/gas mixture (hereinafter referred to as carbonated liquid for convenience) may be withdrawn from the chamber from an outlet thereof to a dispensing means, wherein the dispensing means forms part of what is otherwise a generally closed circuit, such that when the dispensing means is inoperative, liquid may flow from the chamber through the outlet and around the circuit to be returned to the chamber via the conduit.
  • the liquid/gas mixture hereinafter referred to as carbonated liquid for convenience
  • the conduit provides a means both for the delivery of fresh liquid to the chamber and for the return of circulating gassified liquid to the chamber.
  • the conduit preferably comprises, at or adjacent the gas inlet means, liquid flow restricting means, conveniently in the form of a venturi tube, whereat the area of the conduit through which the liquid passes is reduced, producing a reduction in pressure within the conduit causing gas to be withdrawn from the space above the level of the liquid, and entrained with the liquid flowing through the conduit, and subsequently delivered with the liquid to the chamber at the position below the level.
  • liquid flow restricting means conveniently in the form of a venturi tube
  • the conduit is so arranged that flow of liquid from the conduit produces agitation of the liquid in the chamber, whereby mixing of the gas and liquid in the chamber may be achieved without the need for mechanical stirring means.
  • Preferably additionally means is provided, preferably adjacent to the exit of the conduit, to impart a degree of angular momentum to the liquid flow, which has been found by the applicants to improve the degree of mixing of the gas and liquid within the chamber.
  • the conduit is so directed as to produce a flow of liquid from the conduit which has a tangential component.
  • conduit extends substantially the full depth of the chamber, such that the gas/liquid mixture is emitted at the bottom of the chamber.
  • a removable closure member in the bottom of the chamber, removal of which enables the chamber to be drained, for example during cleaning.
  • the closure member when attached to the chamber, may provide an additional cavity into which a lower part of the conduit may extend, such that in use, the gas/liquid mixture is emitted to the inside of the closure member, with the gas/liquid mixture then rising up through the chamber, causing the required agitation.
  • guide means adapted to guide the gas/liquid mixture rising from the end of the conduit towards the side wall(s) of the chamber, to enable a relatively uniform distribution of gas bubbles to be achieved within the liquid.
  • the guide means is preferably located on or just above the surface of the liquid, and conveniently, is adapted to float on the liquid.
  • the guide means may comprise one or more baffles within the chamber.
  • the guide means preferably comprises a disc having a generally centrally located hole through which the conduit passes, and conveniently further comprises one or more baffles extending below the disc towards the conduit so as to guide generally upwardly moving gas/liquid away from the conduit, towards an underside of the disc, and eventually towards an outer portion of the disc.
  • the apparatus described above is particularly suitable for use as a beverage cooler/carbonator.
  • a beverage carbonator comprising apparatus as set out above, wherein the conduit forms part of a circuit through which liquid is continuously circulated, the circuit extending through a dispensing head of the carbonator from which liquid may be selectively be withdrawn from the circuit.
  • the carbonator comprises cooling means for liquid in the chamber.
  • FIGURE 1 is a cut-away view of a beverage cooler/carbonator in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram showing the flow of liquid in the use of the apparatus.
  • FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view showing an outlet of a conduit of the carbonator.
  • FIG. 1 a beverage cooler/carbonator generally indicated at 10, comprising an outer side wall 11, separated from an inner side wall 12 by a layer of insulating material 13.
  • the inner side wall 12 defines a chamber 14 in which is received a quantity of potable liquid 15, having an upper level 16.
  • a quantity of gas in this example carbon dioxide, is maintained in a space 17 above the upper level 16, at a pressure at which equilibrium may be achieved between the gas and the liquid, whereby an appropriate degree of carbonation is maintained in the liquid.
  • One or more cooling coils 19 are provided within the chamber 14, whereby an ice bank 20 is built up around the inside of the inner side wall 12.
  • the chamber comprises an outlet 21a through which carbonated liquid may flow around a circuit 22, which re-enters chamber 14 at inlet 21b.
  • a dispensing head 42 ( Figure 2) is located on the circuit 22, from which liquid may be drawn in the use of the apparatus.
  • the inlet 21a is connected to a conduit 23, terminating at an outlet 26 positioned well below the level 16 of the liquid.
  • the conduit 23 comprises a gas inlet 25 in the form of an aperture within the conduit, within the space 17 which is linked to a portion 25a of restricted flow within the conduit, such as the neck of a venturi tube.
  • the reduced pressure of the liquid at a position adjacent the gas inlet 25 causes gas within the space 17 to be entrained with the liquid flowing through the conduit and transferred to the body of the liquid in the chamber.
  • the conduit, 23 projects into a supplementary chamber 27 provided by a removable cap 24, conveniently attached to the side wall 12 by a screw thread.
  • the outlet 26 of the conduit, and/or a surface of the cap 24 against which liquid exiting the conduit impinges may be formed to produce swirling motion of the liquid as it leaves the conduit, particularly imparting to the liquid a tangential component, in order to provide mixing of the liquid within the conduit, and in particular flow thereof to the outer regions thereof, and impingement against the ice bank.
  • the cap 24 may thus be removed when it is desired to clean the apparatus.
  • a generally disc shaped float 28 conveniently of a plastics material having a density less than that of the gas/liquid mixture (typically carbonated water), which is adapted to slide relative to the conduit 23, so as to follow the level 16 of the liquid.
  • the float 28 has a generally flat underside 29, but is provided with a generally conical baffle 30 which in use guides the flow sideways to enhance the liquid circulation, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1.
  • gas bubbles are dispersed generally evenly across the surface of the liquid, and the build up of a foam around a central part of the liquid is removed.
  • Figure 2 shows a flow diagram which may be used in the performance of the invention, wherein pump 44 circulates carbonated liquid from the chamber through the continuous circuit 22, which extends through a dispensing head 42 of the carbonator.
  • pump 44 circulates carbonated liquid from the chamber through the continuous circuit 22, which extends through a dispensing head 42 of the carbonator.
  • a tap of the dispensing head 42 is opened, to allow carbonated liquid to be withdrawn from the circuit, for use.
  • the carbonator comprises means to sense the level of liquid in the chamber, and thus as the level falls valve 49 is operated to allow fresh water to be delivered to the chamber, to maintain the level of liquid in the chamber at an optimum level.
  • the conduit 48 extending to the supply of uncarbonated liquid, is associated with the chamber 12 in such a way as to avail itself of the cooling capability of the chamber, so that, as fresh water enters the chamber, it is at a temperature not significantly higher than the temperature of the liquid in the chamber, and hence there is minimum tendency for carbon dioxide to be freed from solution.
  • cooling means may be provided, to cool water entering the system through the conduit 48.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un carbonateur de boissons comprenant un appareil de carbonatation comportant une chambre (14) pourvue d'un niveau supérieur (16), dans laquelle se trouve une certaine quantité de liquide potable. Une certaine quantité de dioxyde de carbone est maintenue dans l'espace (17) au-dessus du niveau supérieur (16), à une pression relativement élevée. Un circuit (22) partant de la chambre (14) passe à travers une tête (42) de distribution et retourne vers une entrée (21b) de la chambre, d'où sort un conduit (23) se terminant en un emplacement bien inférieur au niveau (16) du liquide dans la chambre. Le conduit (23) est prévu à un emplacement juste au-dessus de la surface du liquide, avec une entrée (25) de gaz, adjacente à un dispositif venturi, de manière qu'à mesure que le liquide s'écoule à travers le conduit dans la chambre, le gaz est aspiré de l'espace au-dessus du niveau de liquide dans le liquide. Ainsi, on fait s'écouler le liquide dans la chambre, ledit liquide véhiculant avec lui le dioxyde de carbone.
PCT/GB1999/000082 1998-01-13 1999-01-12 Appareil d'apport de liquide gazeifie et carbonateur a boissons Ceased WO1999036346A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU20649/99A AU2064999A (en) 1998-01-13 1999-01-12 Apparatus for the delivery of a gassified liquid, and beverage carbonator
EP99901015A EP1047624B1 (fr) 1998-01-13 1999-01-12 Appareil d'apport de liquide gazeifie et carbonateur a boissons
DE69912095T DE69912095D1 (de) 1998-01-13 1999-01-12 Abgabevorrichtung für eine gasenthaltende flüssigkeit und karbonator für getränke

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9800532.5A GB9800532D0 (en) 1998-01-13 1998-01-13 Apparatus for enhancing mixing of a liquid and a gas
GB9800532.5 1998-01-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999036346A1 true WO1999036346A1 (fr) 1999-07-22

Family

ID=10825122

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1999/000082 Ceased WO1999036346A1 (fr) 1998-01-13 1999-01-12 Appareil d'apport de liquide gazeifie et carbonateur a boissons

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1047624B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2064999A (fr)
DE (1) DE69912095D1 (fr)
GB (2) GB9800532D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999036346A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001014243A1 (fr) 1999-08-21 2001-03-01 Whitlenge Drink Equipment Limited Systeme de refroidissement
EP1826171A3 (fr) * 2006-02-22 2007-09-05 Youngone Corporation Appareil d'approvisionnement en eau gazeuse

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB302794A (en) * 1927-12-05 1928-12-27 August Nicol Improvements in dispensing apparatus for gaseous drinks
FR2191547A5 (fr) * 1972-06-26 1974-02-01 Brosseau Et Fil
US3881636A (en) * 1972-06-20 1975-05-06 Aubreby Jean Pierre A D Apparatus for dispensing sparkling beverages by single doses

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4837039A (en) * 1987-02-09 1989-06-06 Ramon Escola Gallart Process of gasification for obtention of gasified candies
US5124088A (en) * 1990-09-04 1992-06-23 Stumphauzer William C Process and apparatus for rapidly carbonating water

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB302794A (en) * 1927-12-05 1928-12-27 August Nicol Improvements in dispensing apparatus for gaseous drinks
US3881636A (en) * 1972-06-20 1975-05-06 Aubreby Jean Pierre A D Apparatus for dispensing sparkling beverages by single doses
FR2191547A5 (fr) * 1972-06-26 1974-02-01 Brosseau Et Fil

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001014243A1 (fr) 1999-08-21 2001-03-01 Whitlenge Drink Equipment Limited Systeme de refroidissement
EP1826171A3 (fr) * 2006-02-22 2007-09-05 Youngone Corporation Appareil d'approvisionnement en eau gazeuse

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69912095D1 (de) 2003-11-20
GB2334221A (en) 1999-08-18
GB2334221B (en) 2002-02-20
EP1047624B1 (fr) 2003-10-15
GB9800532D0 (en) 1998-03-11
EP1047624A1 (fr) 2000-11-02
AU2064999A (en) 1999-08-02

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