CARBONATING APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGES

Abstract: Carbonating apparatus is provided for carbonating or recarbonating a beverage contained in a bottle or other container, the apparatus having one or more chambers for storing carbon dioxide and/or other fluids and being associated with a control means for enabling multiple measured quantities of gas or fluid to be released into contact and thereby be mixed with or dissolved in the beverage.

Description: CARBONATING APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGES This invention relates to apparatus and a method for carbonating or recarbonating beverages, particularly although not essentially soft drinks and waters. The invention is suitable for use in domestic environments and in relation to beverages after their initial retail and even partial consumption. It is a well known practice to carbonate certain types of beverages to increase their appeal and enhance their flavour. Such drinks are commonly referred to as "fizzy", "pop" or "sparkling", but herein shall be referred to generically as "carbonated beverages". Carbonated beverages are typically sold in plastics disposable bottles which may be of sufficiently large size to cater for the consumption of the beverage over an extended period of time. A problem encountered with such drinks however, is that once the seal or closure of the bottle or other container has been opened, the extent of carbonation is reduced and the drinks are prone to become flat. This lessens the appeal of the drink and can often lead to wastage or consumer dissatisfaction. In the past, attempts have been made to mitigate this problem by aiming to restrict the escape of the carbonating gas from, firstly the beverage, and secondly the container itself. One common method, which has not met with commercial success, is to pressurise with air the space in the container between the beverage and the closure, thereby reducing the tendency of carbon dioxide or other gases to come out of solution in the beverage. These attempts have typically required the use of a mechanical pump, often provided as part of the closure, which are intended to pump air into the space between the beverage and the closure in the container. A disadvantage of such devices is that they can only slow the process of decarbonation. They cannot prevent it and most certainly cannot reverse it. Moreover, they require a discipline beyond that willingly applied by a typical consumer. In my co-pending International Application No PCT/GB96/01391 there is provided a superior solution to the aforementioned problem in the form of a container closure comprising a chamber for storing a carbonating gas under pressure, the gas typically including carbon dioxide, wherein the closure includes means for controllably releasing the gas directly into contact with the beverage held in a container or bottle to which the closure is attached. An object of the present invention is to provide carbonating apparatus which is similarly capable of storing a carbona- ng gas under pressure, the capacity of said storage being sufficient to provide a carbonating or recarbonating function to one or more beverages on a plurality of occasions, there being provided an associated means of releasing a predetermined quantity (and not necessarily all) of the stored carbonating gas at any one time. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided carbonating apparatus for increasing the extent of carbonation of a beverage, the apparatus comprising: a first chamber or reservoir for storing carbonating gas at a positive gauge pressure; sealing means for sealingly engaging the apparatus with an associated beverage container; a passage for conveying gas from the first chamber to the beverage located in the associated container; release means for activating the release of gas into the beverage; and control means for restricting the quantity of gas released into the beverage at any one time to an amount which may be substantially less than the quantity of gas stored in said first chamber. The gas may be any suitable gas adapted to increase the carbonation level of a beverage. It may be mixed with other fluids to provide additional functions, such as lowering or raising the temperature, flavouring, sweetening or preserving the beverage. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a second chamber located in the passage downstream from the first chamber. Preferably the passage further includes a first valve, which when in a closed position, restricts the flow of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber and a second valve, which when in a closed position prevents the flow of gas from the second chamber to the beverage. The first valve may be in the form of a flow restrictor which remains open but restricts the flow from the first chamber to the second chamber to a rate substantially less than the rate of flow of gas from the second chamber to the beverage when the second valve is opened. The control means may be provided by sizing the second chamber so that it has a capacity or volume suitable for storing a desired amount of the gas for release into a beverage at any one time, the first valve restricting or preventing the flow of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber while gas is being released from the second chamber into the beverage. The second valve may be activated to an open position by an integral switch is triggered when the apparatus is fully engaged with the associated container. Optionally, the volume or capacity of the second chamber can be adjusted. It may be formed as part of the container closure which also includes said sealing means, the closure being connectable to a separate body housing the first chamber and part of said passage. Alternatively, the control means may be provided by a pressure sensitive valve which closes, and thereby stops the release of gas from the chamber to the beverage when the pressure in the beverage container reaches a predetermined level. Other pressure relief means may be included in the apparatus such that when the pressure inside the bottle or container reaches a predetermined level a valve or vent is caused to open in the passage allowing for the escape of gas or other fluid from the bottle or container. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of carbonating or recarbonating a beverage in a container comprising storing a carbonating gas in a first chamber sealingly engageable with the beverage container and using a control means to control the quantity of gas released into the beverage container at any one time to an amount which may be substantially less than the quantity of gas stored in the chamber. Optionally, the method of carbonating or recarbonating a beverage in a container comprises the steps of transferring carbonating gas from the first chamber to a second chamber, preventing or restricting to negligible levels the further transfer of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber, and thereafter releasing gas from the second chamber into the beverage container. Alternatively, the method of carbonating or recarbonating a beverage comprises the steps of creating a passage from the chamber to the beverage container and causing the passage to be blocked or restricted once the internal pressure of the beverage container reaches a predetermined level. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Fig 1 shows apparatus comprising a bottle closure and a separable gas cylinder in accordance with the invention; and Figs 2 and 3 illustrate unitary carbonating apparatus with alternative control means. Referring firstly to Fig 1, carbonating apparatus comprises of a lid 10 which incorporates a passage 11, the passage providing a physical communication between a first chamber 12 and an outlet 13. The first chamber 12 is formed within a pressure vessel 14 and contains a carbonating gas (not shown) at high pressure. The gas may be carbon dioxide. A pressure reducing valve 15 is placed at the junction of the passage lla and the first chamber 12, such that the pressure in the passage 11 is maintained at safe levels, and in any event, at pressures far less than that typical of the gas remaining in the pressure vessel 14. A separate closure 16 for a bottle or container (not shown) is formed with a second chamber 17 and sealing means 5 for sealingly engaging an associated bottle or container. The sealing means 5 may be a standard thread for engaging a threaded bottle neck, there being a malleable seal or disc to ensure the integrity of the seal, such devices being well known in the art. The closure 16 is provided with an extension of the passage 11 on either side and through the second chamber 17, to allow for the passage of gas from the inlet 18 to the outlet nozzle 19. At the outlet 13 is provided a stop valve 20 which may be of a type commonly known as a Schraeder valve. The Schraeder valve has a needle which is depressed by positioning the valve 20 into the inlet 18 on the closure 16. When the needle is depressed the valve 20 is opened, enabling the flow of gas from the first chamber 12 through the passage lla and into the second chamber 17. The second chamber 17 is thereby filled with gas to a pressure equivalent with the pressure in the passage 11. The size of the second chamber 17 is therefore suitably determined as a function of the amount of beverage to be carbonated and the pressure of the gas which it is designed to store. The closure 16 incorporates a release means for allowing for the release of the gas stored in the second chamber 17 in the beverage in the bottle or container. The release means typically may comprise a second valve 6 operable between an open and closed position, wherein by engaging the closure onto the bottle the valve is opened to cause the gas to flow from the second chamber to the beverage. It is known from my co-pending International Application No PCT/GB95/01391 that the release means may be designed to operate only when the closure is secured to the bottle or container and only when the bottle or container is inverted, such that the gas is released directly into the beverage and not a gap between the beverage and the closure. With the embodiment shown in Fig 1, the Schraeder valve 20 would be closed by removing the outlet 13 from the inlet 18 prior to activating the release means . By this, only the gas stored in the second chamber 17 can be released into the beverage, gas from the passage lla and the first chamber 12 being disconnected from the supply. If it was subsequently desired to release further carbonating gas into the beverage or an alternative beverage, the process could be repeated by reconnecting the inlet 18 with the outlet 13 and valve 20, thereby recharging the second chamber 17. A preferable embodiment is shown in Fig 2, where carbonating apparatus has a housing 30 containing a first chamber 31 and a second chamber 32. The chambers 31, 32, are connected by the passage 33a which incorporates a flow restrictor 34 allowing for only a leakage of gas from the first chamber 31 to the second chamber 32. The flow restrictor 34 may be a physical obstruction in the passage 33 or may, as a further example, be a porous membrane. The second chamber 32 is also provided with an exit passage 33b leading to a nozzle 19. The housing 30 has a sealing means 35 to allow for the sealing engagement of the apparatus to a bottle or container in which beverage is stored. The apparatus in Fig 2 has a release means in the form of a manually operable stop valve 37 which co-operates with a switch 38. By pressing the switch 38, the valve 37 is opened causing the gas stored in the second chamber 32 to be released via the passage 33b and out the nozzle 19. The second chamber 32 is not replenished with gas from the chamber 31 immediately by reason of the flow restrictor 34. Thus, in the embodiments shown in Figs 1 and 2 a control means for restricting the quantity of gas released into the beverage has utilised two chambers; a first chamber for storing a large supply of gas, and a second chamber of appropriate volume to store a measured and suitable quantity of gas for release. An alternative control means is shown in Fig 3 where there is illustrated a housing 40 having a single chamber 41 tapped by a passage 42 which leads to a release nozzle 19. In the passage 42 is provided a valve 43 biased in a closed position but operable to an open position by a switch or lever 44. Proximal to the nozzle 19 is a sealing means 46 for enabling the sealing engagement of the housing 40 to a beverage container or bottle. The valve 43 is a pressure valve which shuts off when the pressure on its downstream side reaches a predetermined magnitude. This shut-off facility overrides any manual attempt to open the valve 43 using the switch 44. The shut-off mechanism in the valve 43 ensures that dangerous or undesirable pressures are not acquired in the beverage container. This same facility enables just the right amount of gas to be released from the carbonating apparatus into the beverage container or bottle. These and other embodiments of the invention may also comprise a pressure relief means. It is known that beverage containers can explode or rupture when exposed to excessively high or low temperatures . A pressure relief valve can be incorporated into the carbonating apparatus to maintain the pressure in the beverage container at acceptable levels. The pressure release means might typically comprise a valve located in the passage lib, 33b or 42 upstream of the nozzle 19 but downstream of the valve 6, 37, 43. In the embodiments described the nozzle 19 is shaped to cause the gas to disperse into the beverage in the form of a fine spray, thereby enhancing the rate at which the gas is absorbed or dissolved into the beverage. The ability to design and manufacture the nozzle to a predetermined shape; the shape being sustainable through the repeated operation of the apparatus is seen as advantageous . While the invention is intended to provide a means for carbonating or recarbonating beverages, particularly in a domestic environment, it is envisaged that the apparatus may have many other applications. For example, the chambers may store other substances instead of or additional to carbon dioxide. Further modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Carbonating apparatus for increasing the extent of carbonation of a beverage, the apparatus comprising; a first chamber for storing carbonating gas at a positive gauge pressure, sealing means for sealingly engaging the apparatus with an associated beverage container, a passage for conveying gas from the first chamber to the beverage in the container, release means for activating the release of gas into the beverage, and control means for restricting the quantity of gas released into the beverage at any one time to an amount which may be substantially less than the quantity of gas stored in the first chamber. 2. Carbonating apparatus as Claimed in Claim 1 further comprising a second chamber located in the passage downstream from the first chamber. 3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the passage further includes a first valve which, when in a closed position, restricts or prevents the flow of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber, and a second valve which, when in a closed position, prevents the flow of gas from the second chamber to the beverage. 4. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the first valve is in the form of a flow resrictor which remains open but restricts the flow from the first chamber to the second chamber to a rate substantially less than the rate of flow of gas from the second chamber to the beverage when the second valve is opened. 5. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the control means is provided by sizing the second chamber so that it has a capacity or volume suitable for storing a desired amount of the gas for release into a beverage at any one time, the first valve restricting or preventing the flow of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber while gas is being released from the second chamber into the beverage. 6. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the volume or capacity of the second chamber is adjustable. 7. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein the second chamber and sealing means are comprised in a separable body from the first chamber. 8. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the control means is provided by a pressure sensitive valve which closes and thereby stops the release of gas from the chamber to the beverage when the pressure in the beverage container reaches a predetermined level. 9. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims further comprising pressure relief means such that when pressure inside the container reaches a predetermined level a valve or vent located in the passage is caused to open allowing for the escape of gas or other fluid from the container. 10. Carbonating apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the gas includes carbon dioxide. 11. A method of carbonating or recarbonating a beverage in a container comprising storing a carbonating gas in a first chamber sealingly engageable with the beverage container and using a control means to control the quantity of gas released into the beverage container at any one time to an amount which may be substantially less than the quantity of gas stored in the chamber. 12. A method of carbonating or recarbonating a beverage in a container as claimed in Claim 11 comprising the steps of transferring carbonating gas from the first chamber to a second chamber, preventing or restricting to negligible levels the further transfer of gas from the first chamber to the second chamber, and thereafter releasing gas from the second chamber into the beverage container. 13. A method of carbonating or recarbonating a beverage in a container as claimed in Claim 11 comprising the steps of creating a passage from the chamber to the beverage container and causing the passage to be blocked or restricted once the internal pressure of the beverage container reaches a predetermined level.

Inventors: BYRNE PAUL ANTHONY, BYRNE, PAUL, ANTHONY
Applicants: BYRNE PAUL ANTHONY, BYRNE, PAUL, ANTHONY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D79
IPC codes: B65D79, B65D85