Carbon dioxide fill manifold

A carbon dioxide fill manifold which is designed to provide an end-user with an uninterrupted supply of carbon dioxide gas, while at the same time eliminating the necessity of transporting individual, conventional pressurized bottles to be refilled. The carbon dioxide fill manifold includes a fill line having a fill line valve therein for introducing liquid carbon dioxide into the system, one or more liquid chambers communicating with the fill line for receiving and storing liquid carbon dioxide, a liquid transfer line extending from the fill line to an atomizer, a service line connected to the atomizer and fitted with at least one vapor container for receiving gaseous carbon dioxide generated in the atomizer and a service line valve provided in the service line for servicing the end user with gaseous carbon dioxide. In an optional embodiment a bleeder valve line and bleeder valve are also connected to the atomizer, in order to determine when the system is filled with liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide and an in-line pressure relief valve, located in the liquid transfer line, serves to periodically replenish the supply of gaseous carbon dioxide to the vapor container(s) responsive to a selected pressure differential at the pressure relief valve.

Background of the Invention 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to gas transfer systems and more particularly, to a 
carbon dioxide fill manifold and method for handling liquid and gaseous 
carbon dioxide and dispensing the gaseous carbon dioxide to an end-user, 
such as a carbonated drink-dispensing system. The carbon dioxide fill 
manifold of this invention is characterized by a fill line provided with a 
fill line valve for introducing liquid carbon dioxide into the system, at 
least one liquid chamber communicating with the fill line for receiving 
and storing liquid carbon dioxide, an atomizer communicating with the fill 
line, a bleeder valve line communicating with the atomizer and provided 
with an optional bleeder valve for determining when the system is fully 
charged with liquid carbon dioxide and a service line also connected to 
the atomizer and provided with at least one vapor container for receiving 
and storing gaseous carbon dioxide generated in the system. A service line 
valve is provided in the service line, in order to facilitate dispensing 
of the gaseous carbon dioxide to an end-user. The carbon dioxide fill 
manifold and method of this invention are designed to store both liquid 
and gaseous carbon dioxide and to provide a substantially uninterrupted 
supply of gaseous carbon dioxide to an end-user such as a carbonated drink 
dispenser, without the necessity of transporting conventional carbon 
dioxide pressure vessels to and from the end-user site. 
The carbon dioxide fill manifold of this invention is designed to provide a 
selected number of liquid chambers and corresponding vapor containers 
connected in series and separated by an atomizer, to allow for the 
appropriate ratio of gas to liquid in the system. After filling of the 
liquid chamber or chambers is complete according to the method of this 
invention, the customer or end-user will initially draw gas from the vapor 
container(s). When a predetermined volume of gaseous carbon dioxide has 
been used from these vapor container(s) by the customer to create a 
predetermined pressure differential between the vapor container(s) and the 
liquid chamber(s), an in-line pressure relief valve will automatically 
open to facilitate the flow of additional carbon dioxide into the 
atomizer. The atomizer allows this carbon dioxide to rapidly expand into a 
gas before entering the vapor container(s), in order to refill the vapor 
container(s). This gas-evolution process continues in the atomizer until 
the preselected pressure differential at the pressure relief valve has 
been equalized and the pressure relief valve then closes. A primary 
feature of the carbon dioxide fill manifold and method of this invention 
is the capacity for refilling both the liquid chamber(s) and the vapor 
container(s) without disconnecting these vessels from the supply and 
service lines, respectively. Since the liquid chamber(s) and vapor 
container(s) are filled by volume instead of by weight, the need to 
transport, handle and weigh the carbon dioxide-containing vessels is 
eliminated. 
A common method of providing an end-user such as a carbonated drink 
dispensing apparatus with carbon dioxide gas, involves the use of high 
pressure bottles or cylinders which are manufactured in various sizes, 
typically 20 and 50 pound quantities, wherein the weight designation 
refers to the weight of the carbon dioxide in the bottles at full 
capacity. These bottles are typically filled by weight instead of volume, 
since a portion of each bottle (approximately 32%) must be reserved for 
expansion of the carbon dioxide into the vapor phase, in order to maintain 
an appropriate volume of liquid at a desired pressure. The problem of 
furnishing bottles of uniform weight and carbon dioxide volume is 
amplified by the fact that there is no uniform weight or tare among the 
bottles themselves. The bottles are typically filled by placing them on a 
scale and charging them with liquid carbon dioxide until the desired 
weight of liquid carbon dioxide is injected therein. Accordingly, the 
carbon dioxide supplier must periodically interrupt the customer supply, 
in order to exchange a full bottle for the empty bottle, using this 
system. The empty bottles must then be transported to a warehouse for 
weighing and refilling and the cycle is repeated. Expansion of a small 
amount of the carbon dioxide liquid into a gas exerts the necessary vapor 
pressure to maintain a proper gas-liquid balance in these bottles, to 
assure proper dispensing of carbon dioxide gas to the end-user. These 
conventional carbon-dioxide supply bottles are typically equipped with a 
rupture disc which is designed to rupture if the pressure inside the 
bottle rises beyond a specified level. Overfilling, that is, charging 
liquid carbon dioxide into that portion of the bottle which is normally 
reserved for gas expansion purposes, will cause this disc to burst, an 
occurrence which is both dangerous and wasteful. 
1. Description of the Prior Art 
Various types of liquid and gaseous vapor-containing and handling systems 
are well known to those in the art. A "Fluid Medium Storing and Dispensing 
System" is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,412,613, dated Dec. 17, 1946, to H. 
C. Grant, Jr. The patent details one or more receptacles or containers for 
storing a high-pressure fluid medium such as liquified carbon dioxide. 
Further included is a fluid medium retaining and releasing apparatus 
associated with each of the containers, which apparatus is adapted to be 
operated by the fluid medium from one or more containers in the system. A 
suitable actuating device which is operable by a relatively small force 
for initiating simultaneous release of the fluid medium from one or more 
of the containers, is also provided. U.S. Pat. No. 2,492,165, dated Dec. 
27, 1949, to D. Mapes, details a "System for Dispensing Fluids". The 
system includes multiple receptacles containing a fluid under pressure, 
apparatus provided in each of the receptacles for normally retaining a 
fluid therein, which apparatus operates to release the fluid from the 
receptacles, delivery means into which the fluid may be delivered from all 
the receptacles and a fluid-actuated operating device for operating the 
retaining apparatus of each receptacle. Apparatus for conducting fluid 
from the delivery means to the operating apparatus with at least one of 
the receptacles is also provided. A "Pneumatic Installation" is detailed 
in U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,641, dated Apr. 1, 1952, to J. Troendle. The 
installation includes one or more sources of compressed air, one or more 
devices to be fed with compressed air for pneumatic control purposes, 
several compressed air reservoirs, and conduits connecting the various 
elements to each other. U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,834, dated Sept. 25, 1973, to 
David E. Shonerd, et al, details a "Reservoir for Pressurized Fluids". The 
reservoir includes multiple, straight tubes located in side-by-side 
relationship and surrounded by a single, elongated tube of substantially 
less diameter which is helically wound about the straight tubes to define 
a reservoir for pressurized natural gas. The helically-wound tube serves 
both as a protective covering and a strengthening structure for the 
straight tubes. The straight tubes and helically-wound tubes may be 
interconnected by suitable manifolding and a fill opening is provided for 
storing pressurized fluid therein. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a carbon dioxide fill manifold 
which is designed to provide an end-user with a substantially 
uninterrupted supply of carbon dioxide gas, while at the same time 
eliminating the necessity of transporting individual conventional bottles 
or cylinders for refilling purposes. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide fill 
manifold and method for dispensing gaseous carbon dioxide to an end user 
from a liquid carbon dioxide charge, wherein the quantity of the gas 
distributed is determined by volume, rather than by weight. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved 
carbon dioxide fill manifold which is designed for on-site use to 
facilitate connection of multiple liquid chamber bottles and companion 
vapor chamber bottles using an atomizer, wherein an end-user or customer 
is supplied with a substantially uninterrupted source of carbon dioxide 
gas at a desired pressure. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carbon dioxide fill 
manifold which utilizes an atomizer and an in-line pressure relief valve 
according to the method of this invention to periodically vaporize a 
charge of carbon dioxide for dispensing in the gaseous phase to an 
end-user. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide a carbon dioxide fill 
manifold which is characterized by a series of fittings and valves 
constructed from high pressure material and designed to incorporate a 
selected number of liquid chambers and vapor containers, wherein the total 
volume of the vapor containers represents approximately 32% or more of the 
total volume of the liquid chambers and vapor containers and the liquid 
chambers and vapor containers are separated by an atomizer, the manifold 
is initially charged with liquid carbon dioxide to fill the liquid 
chambers, and the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to gaseous carbon 
dioxide for dispensing to a customer. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved 
carbon dioxide fill manifold and method for storing liquid and gaseous 
carbon dioxide which facilitate the dispensing of carbon dioxide gas to a 
customer or end-user on a volume, rather than a weight basis and thereby 
eliminates the necessity of using multiple, conventional individual carbon 
dioxide bottles or cylinders which must be periodically returned to a 
plant and refilled. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects of the invention are provided in a new and improved 
carbon dioxide fill manifold which is characterized in a preferred 
embodiment by a fill line provided with a fill line valve for receiving a 
charge of liquid carbon dioxide; a selected number of liquid chambers 
provided in communication with the fill line for receiving and storing the 
carbon dioxide; a liquid transfer line connecting the fill line to an 
in-line pressure relief valve and an atomizer; an optional bleeder valve 
line extending from the vaporizer and a bleeder valve provided in the 
bleeder valve line for determining when the system is fully charged with 
liquid carbon dioxide; and a service line connected to the atomizer, with 
a selected number of vapor containers communicating with the service line. 
A method for receiving and storing gaseous carbon dioxide and distributing 
the gaseous carbon dioxide to an end-user responsive to the flow of liquid 
carbon dioxide from the liquid chambers through the in-line pressure 
relief valve to the atomizer at a selected pressure differential using the 
carbon dioxide fill manifold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the carbon dioxide fill manifold of 
this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The carbon 
dioxide fill manifold 1 is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a 
fill line 2, fitted with a fill line flange 3 therein for receiving a 
cooperating coupling (not illustrated) of a vessel such as a truck (not 
illustrated), containing liquid carbon dioxide, and injecting the liquid 
carbon dioxide into the fill line 2. A fill line valve 4 is provided in 
the fill line 2 near the fill line flange 3 and the fill line valve 4 is 
characterized by a valve body 5 and a valve plug 6, for opening and 
closing the fill line valve 4, as desired. It will be appreciated by those 
skilled in the art that the fill line valve 4 may be of any suitable 
design which is operable to handle liquid carbon dioxide, according to the 
knowledge of those skilled in the art and the schematic design of the fill 
line valve illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided for purpose of illustration 
only. A four-way chamber fitting 15 is provided in the fill line 2 
downstream from the fill line valve 4 and a first chamber flexible 
connection 10 extends from one leg of the four-way chamber fitting 15, as 
illustrated. A first chamber flange 9 terminates the opposite end of the 
first chamber flexible connection 10 and a first liquid chamber 8 is 
connected to the first chamber flange 9 in liquid-receiving relationship. 
A second chamber flexible connection 14 extends from the opposite leg of 
the four-way chamber fitting 15 and a second chamber flange 13 is 
connected to the extending end of the second chamber flexible connection 
14. A second liquid chamber 12 is connected to the second chamber flange 
13, as further illustrated in FIG. 1. Similarly, a T-chamber fitting 20 is 
provided in the fill line 2, a third chamber flexible connection 19 
extends from one leg of the T-chamber fitting 20 and a third chamber 
flange 18 is attached to the extending end of the third chamber flexible 
connection 19. Furthermore, a third liquid chamber 17 is connected to the 
third chamber flange 18 and the opposite leg of the T-chamber fitting 20 
is connected to a liquid transfer line 26. Accordingly, it will be 
appreciated by those skilled in the art that liquid carbon dioxide which 
is charged into the fill line 2 through the fill line flange 3 and the 
fill line valve 4 is allowed to fill the first liquid chamber 8, the 
second liquid chamber 12 and the third liquid chamber 17, which 
communicate with the fill line 2, as heretofore described. Furthermore, 
one or more additional T-chamber fittings 20, one of which is illustrated 
in phantom upstream from the 4-way chamber fitting 15, can be provided in 
the fill line 2, along with a future chamber flexible connection 24, a 
future chamber flange 23 and a future liquid chamber 22, as further 
illustrated in phantom. 
An in-line pressure relief valve 27 is provided in the liquid transfer line 
26 and the liquid transfer line 26 communicates with an atomizer 29, as 
further illustrated in FIG. 1. An atomizer pressure relief valve 30 also 
communicates with the atomizer 29 through an atomizer flexible connection 
32 and a vent 31 is provided on the vaporizer pressure relief valve 30 for 
discharging carbon dioxide from the atomizer pressure relief valve 30, if 
the system pressure rises above a predetermined level. One end of an 
optional bleeder valve line 34 is also attached to the atomizer 29 and the 
opposite end receives a bleeder valve 35 and a bleeder valve nozzle 36, 
for purposes which will be hereinafter further described. One end of a 
service line 38 extends from the atomizer 29 and a first container nipple 
41 communicates with the service line 38, as illustrated. A first 
container flange 40 terminates the extending end of the first container 
nipple 41 and a first vapor container 39 is secured to the first container 
flange 40, in order to facilitate filling the first vapor container 39 
with carbon dioxide vapor, as hereinafter further described. One or more 
future container nipples 45, one of which is illustrated in phantom, may 
also be provided in communication with the service line 38, along with a 
future container flange 44 and a future vapor container 43, also 
illustrated in phantom. As in the case of the first vapor container 39, 
the future vapor container 43 is designed to receive and store gaseous 
carbon dioxide, as further hereinafter described. A service line valve 47, 
having a valve plug 6, is provided in the service line 38 downstream from 
the first vapor container 39 and a service line flange 48 terminates the 
extending end of the service line 38, in order to supply an end-user with 
gaseous carbon dioxide. 
In operation, and referring again to FIG. 1, the carbon dioxide fill 
manifold 1 is designed for installation on site at a customer or end-user 
location. The carbon dioxide fill manifold 1 may be pre-filled or the fill 
line 2 may be connected to a source of liquid carbon dioxide such as a 
tank truck or alternative vessel (not illustrated), by connecting the fill 
line flange 3 with a suitable matching connecting mechanism (not 
illustrated) provided on the tank truck. The number of liquid chambers and 
vapor containers in the carbon dioxide fill manifold 1 is then checked to 
ascertain that the ratio of the liquid chamber volume to the vapor 
container volume is approximately 68%, in order to allow for a proper 
carbon dioxide vapor space in the system. In a preferred embodiment of the 
invention, a first liquid chamber 8, second liquid chamber 12 and third 
liquid chamber 17 are provided in communication with the fill line 2, as 
illustrated. Furthermore, a single first vapor container 39 is provided in 
communication with the service line 38 and in the carbon dioxide fill 
manifold 1, in order to satisfy these requirements. However, it is 
understood that any number of bottles or chambers may be used, so long as 
approximately 32% of the total chamber volume is reserved for vapor 
expansion. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art 
that one or more future liquid chambers 22 and future vapor containers 43 
may also be provided in the carbon dioxide fill manifold 1 as illustrated 
in phantom, so long as the overall liquid chamber to gas chamber ratio of 
about 3 to 1, or a gas volume space of at least 32% of the entire liquid 
chamber and vapor container volume, is maintained in the system. For 
example, two liquid chambers designed to contain 100 pounds of carbon 
dioxide each, can be used in conjunction with one gas or vapor container 
designed to hold 100 pounds of carbon dioxide, in order to maintain the 
proper liquid carbon dioxide-to- gaseous carbon dioxide ratio in the 
carbon dioxide fill manifold 1. 
According to the method of this invention, as liquid carbon dioxide is 
charged into the fill line 2, it flows through the four-way chamber 
fitting 15, the first chamber flexible connection 10 and first chamber 
flange 9, into the first liquid chamber 8. Carbon dioxide also flows 
through the second chamber flexible connection 14, second chamber flange 
13 and into the second liquid chamber 12 and through the T-chamber fitting 
20, the third chamber flexible connection 19, the third chamber flange 18 
and into the third liquid chamber 17. The carbon dioxide continues to flow 
through the fill line 2 until it fills the first liquid chamber 8, second 
liquid chamber 12 and third liquid chamber 17, as well as the fill line 2, 
the liquid transfer line 26, the in-line pressure relief valve 27 and a 
portion of the atomizer 29, after which it flows through the optional 
bleeder valve line 34 and into the bleeder valve 35. A small quantity of 
carbon dioxide also flows into the service line 38 and through the first 
container nipple 41, the first container flange 40 and into the first 
vapor container 39. The flow of liquid carbon dioxide into the fill line 2 
through the fill line flange 3 and the fill line valve 4 is continued 
until liquid carbon dioxide is noted at the optional open bleeder valve 
35. At this time the bleeder valve 35 is closed, along with the fill line 
valve 4 and the source of liquid carbon dioxide is disconnected from the 
fill line flange 3. The system is now ready for use by the customer and 
the customer's carbonated drink dispenser or other end-user apparatus (not 
illustrated) is connected to the service line flange 48. Gaseous carbon 
dioxide is periodically dispensed from the atomizer 29 into the service 
line 38 and the first vapor container 39, such that operation of the 
service line valve 47 facilitates a flow of gaseous carbon dioxide into 
the end-user apparatus on demand. When a sufficient volume of carbon 
dioxide gas has been dispensed to the end-user to create a predetermined 
pressure differential between the first liquid chamber 8, second liquid 
chamber 12 and third liquid chamber 17 and the first vapor container 39 at 
the in-line pressure relief valve 27, then the in-line pressure relief 
valve 27 automatically opens to facilitate a flow of additional liquid 
carbon dioxide from the first liquid chamber 8, second liquid chamber 12 
and the third liquid chamber 17, through the liquid transfer line 26 and 
into the atomizer 29. The atomizer 29 then atomizes an additional quantity 
of carbon dioxide to resupply the service line 38 and the first vapor 
container 39 with gaseous carbon dioxide for additional use by the 
end-user. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the equipment used 
in the carbon dioxide fill manifold 1 of this invention must be chosen to 
withstand a pressure of up to about 1500 psig for all-season use. For 
example, the fill line 2 and liquid transfer line 26 should be constructed 
of such material as schedule 80 steel tubing and the 4-way chamber fitting 
15 and tee chamber fitting 20, as well as other fittings, should be 
constructed of stainless steel or other suitable material. A positive 
displacement liquid carbon dioxide pump {not illustrated) may be mounted 
on a tank truck or other liquid carbon dioxide supply vessel (not 
illustrated) and used to supply liquid carbon dioxide to the fill line 2 
at a pressure of about 1300 psig. 
While the in-line pressure relief valve 27 may be adjusted or chosen to 
operate at any selected pressure drop between the first liquid chamber 8, 
second liquid chamber 12 and the third liquid chamber 17 and the first 
vapor container 39, a pressure drop of about 100 pounds across the in-line 
pressure relief valve 27 is preferred, in order to activate the flow of 
liquid carbon dioxide into the atomizer 29. 
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, 
it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be 
made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such 
modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.