Dispensing – Automatic control – Material level control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-04-17
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Automatic control
Material level control
C222S129200, C222S136000, C222S400700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216913
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a beverage dispensing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a self-contained, high pressure pneumatic beverage dispensing system especially adapted for use on commercial aircraft, railcars, ships, and the like, as well as for installation in golf carts and other such small vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, beverage dispensing systems require electrical or gasoline power. Therefore, these systems tend to be bulky and usually are unsuitable for portable applications. Typically, such conventional beverage dispensing systems comprise a high pressure carbonator tank plumbed to a carbon dioxide (CO
2
) cylinder through a pressure regulator in which the pressure to be supplied to the carbonator tank is reduced to approximately 90 pounds per square inch (psi). A motorized pump plumbed to a fixed water tap system is used to pressurize the water supplied to the tank to approximately 200 psi. The high pressure water flows into the carbonator tank, overcoming the rising pressure of the CO
2
gas contained therein. As the carbonator tank fills with this high pressure water, a pocket of CO
2
gas that exists above the water is compressed, forcing the CO
2
gas to be absorbed into the water, thereby creating carbonated water.
In that the conventional beverage dispensing systems described above require a constant source of power to operate the pump motor, use of such systems is generally limited to fixed installations. Although portable beverage dispensing systems that do not require electrical or gasoline powered pumps have been developed, these systems have several disadvantages. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,179 (Oyler et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,749 (Oyler et al.). Similar to the systems described in the present disclosure, the systems described in these patents use high pressure CO
2
gas supplied by a CO
2
tank to pressurize the water that is supplied to a carbonator tank. Unlike the systems described in the present disclosure, however, the systems described in these patent references use low pressure carbonator tanks which typically operate at pressures below 100 psi.
Despite providing for some degree of water carbonation (typically approximately 2.5%), known systems typically do not produce beverages having a commercially acceptable level of carbonation (generally between 3.0% to 4.0%). Experimentation has shown that the pressurized water often must be cooled to a low temperature prior to entering the carbonator tank of these systems to achieve fill absorption of CO
2
gas into the water. Moreover, the CO
2
gas that is absorbed into the carbonated water can quickly be diffused from the water when it is heated to a warmer temperature. Accordingly, when the carbonated water is post-mixed with relatively warm liquids, such as concentrated syrups, juices, and the like, the relatively small amount of carbonation of the water quickly can be lost.
It therefore can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a self-contained beverage dispensing system that is portable and which produces beverages having a commercially acceptable level of stable carbonation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the present invention relates to a self-contained, pneumatic beverage dispensing system. In one embodiment, the pneumatic beverage dispensing system comprises a carbonator tank for facilitating absorption of CO
2
gas in water to produce carbonated water, a source of CO
2
gas under high pressure, the source of CO
2
gas being in fluid communication with the carbonator tank so as to fill the carbonator tank with CO
2
gas, and a source of water under high pressure, the source of water being in fluid communication with the carbonator tank so as to fill the carbonator tank with water. The system normally further comprises at least two liquid containers for containing liquids to be dispensed by the dispensing system, one of the liquid containers being in fluid communication with the source of CO
2
gas, and a pneumatic pump system in fluid communication with the source of CO
2
gas and the other of the liquid containers. In operation, the pneumatic pump system receives high pressure CO
2
gas from the source of CO
2
gas and uses it to pressurize air that is supplied to the other of the liquid containers. Finally, the system further includes a beverage dispensing valve in fluid communication with the carbonator tank and the at least two liquid containers, the dispensing valve used to dispense carbonated water from the carbonator tank and the liquids contained in the at least two liquid containers.
The features and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4313897 (1982-02-01), Garrard
patent: 5176298 (1993-01-01), Mogler et al.
patent: 5246140 (1993-09-01), Thix et al.
patent: 5411179 (1995-05-01), Oyler et al.
patent: 5553749 (1996-09-01), Oyler et al.
Anne O'Neill, “Beverage Cart with Ambition to Fly,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, May 21-27, 1999.
A Revolution in the Air, Coming Soon: The World's First Onboard Post Mix Beverage Cart, Onboard Services The International Trade Publication for the Passenger Service and Duty-Free Magazine, vol. 31, No. 2, Apr. 1999.
Sterling Beverage Systems, Inc., http://www.sterlingbeverage.com/, 1999 website.
Bilskie Richard P.
Oyler Edward N.
Stover Harold F.
Derakshani Philippe
S.O.B. Partnership
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley, L.L.P.
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