Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – With gas treating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-01-30
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
With gas treating means
C261SDIG007, C261S128000, C261S152000, C422S305000, C062S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178875
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to dispensing equipment and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a carbon dioxide precooling system for a carbonator that cools carbon dioxide prior its introduction into a carbonator tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, beverage dispenser systems dispense a beverage flavor syrup mixed with either plain water to form a drink, such as punch, or carbonated water to form a carbonated drink, such as cola. Beverage dispenser systems often include carbonators for providing carbonated water.
Current carbonators include a tank with an interior portion wherein carbonated water is formed and collected. A carbon dioxide inlet, having one end in communication with a carbon dioxide source and another end in communication with the interior portion of the tank, delivers pressurized carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source to the interior portion of the tank. A water inlet, having one end in communication with a plain water source, such as water from a public water line, and another end in communication with the interior portion of the tank, delivers water from the plain water source to the interior portion of the tank. Upon their entry, plain water and carbon dioxide combine under pressure within the interior portion of the tank to form carbonated water. The newly formed carbonated water collects in the tank and exits through an outlet to a beverage dispenser system's dispensing valves.
A beverage flavor syrup line, having one end in communication with a syrup source and another end in communication with the dispensing valves, delivers beverage flavor syrup to the dispensing valves to ultimately form a desired beverage. As such, beverage flavor syrup combines with either plain or carbonated water to form a drink or a carbonated drink, respectively.
Current carbonator design does not provide for the cooling of carbon dioxide prior to entering the tank. In particular, the tank receives carbon dioxide at ambient temperature directly from the carbon dioxide source. Employing carbon dioxide at ambient temperature to form carbonated water greatly diminishes the absorption of carbon dioxide by the water, thereby resulting in carbonated water that is less than favorable and having a greater potential for forming “flat” carbonated drinks. Additionally, in that it is highly desirable in the industry to serve carbonated drinks at the coldest temperature possible, kinetic theory dictates that the high level of molecular activity associated with the pressure head of ambient temperature carbon dioxide unfavorably raises the overall temperature of carbonated water formed within the tank.
Accordingly, there is a long felt need for cooling carbon dioxide prior to its introduction into a carbonator tank to enhance the process for forming carbonated water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a carbon dioxide precooling system, linked with a carbon dioxide source and with a carbonator including a carbonator tank, for aiding in carbonated water formation includes a carbon dioxide line linked with the carbon dioxide source at an inlet and with the carbonator tank at an outlet. Additionally, the carbon dioxide precooling system includes a cooling device in cooperative engagement with the carbon dioxide line. As such, carbon dioxide travels from the carbon dioxide source, across the carbon dioxide line, and to the carbonator tank. The cooling device sufficiently cools the carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide line prior to entering the carbonator tank thereby aiding in the formation of carbonated water within the carbonator tank.
In a first embodiment of a carbon dioxide precooling system, the cooling device is a cold plate with a cold plate housing. The carbon dioxide line is thus positioned along the cold plate housing to sufficiently cool the carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide line. In a second embodiment of a carbon dioxide precooling system, the cooling device includes a cooling chamber with cooling fluid disposed therein and a refrigeration unit in cooperative engagement with the cooling chamber for sufficiently cooling the cooling fluid. The carbon dioxide line is thus submerged within the cooling fluid to sufficiently cool the carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide line.
The carbon dioxide precooling system may further include a beverage dispenser containing dispensing valves for dispensing a desired drink therefrom, such as cola or punch. The carbon dioxide precooling system may provide a water line linked with a water source at one end and with the carbonator tank at another end such that water travels from the water source, across the water line, and to the carbonator tank. The carbon dioxide precooling system may provide a beverage flavor syrup line linked with a syrup source at an inlet and with the dispensing valves at an outlet whereby beverage flavor syrup travels from the syrup source, across the beverage flavor syrup line, and to the dispensing valves. Accordingly, the water line may be positioned in cooperative engagement with the cooling device such that the water within the water line is sufficiently cooled prior to entering the carbonator tank. The beverage flavor syrup line may be positioned in cooperative engagement with the cooling device such that the beverage flavor syrup within the beverage favor syrup line is sufficiently cooled prior to entering the dispensing valves.
Furthermore, the carbon dioxide precooling system may include a carbonated water line linked with the carbonator tank at an inlet and with the dispensing valves at an outlet whereby carbonated water travels from the carbonator tank, across the carbonated water line, and to the dispensing valves. The carbonated water line may be positioned in cooperative engagement with the cooling device such that the carbonated water within carbonated water line is sufficiently cooled prior to entering the dispensing valves.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for aiding in the formation of carbonated water includes linking a carbon dioxide line with a carbon dioxide source to receive a supply of carbon dioxide across the carbon dioxide line. The carbon dioxide line is linked with a carbonator for delivering carbon dioxide to the carbonator. A cooling device is provided in cooperative engagement with the carbon dioxide line to sufficiently cool the carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide line prior to entering the carbonator, thereby aiding in the formation of carbonated water in the carbonator. Cooling carbon dioxide with a cooling device may comprise utilizing a cold plate whereby the carbon dioxide line is positioned along the cold plate to sufficiently cool the carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide line. Cooling carbon dioxide with a cooling device may comprise submerging the carbon dioxide line in a cooling fluid to sufficiently cool the carbon dioxide within the carbon dioxide line.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a carbon dioxide precooling system and associated method for enhancing the process for forming carbonated water.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carbon dioxide precooling system for a carbonator that cools carbon dioxide prior to its introduction into the carbonator.
Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art in light of the following.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4416194 (1983-11-01), Kemp
patent: 5192513 (1993-03-01), Stumphauzer et al.
patent: 5231851 (1993-08-01), Adolfsson
patent: 5592867 (1997-01-01), Walsh et al.
patent: 5704276 (1998-01-01), Osajima et al.
Alexander Reginald L.
Lancer Partnership. Ltd.
Makay Christopher L.
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