APPARATUS FOR THE DELIVERY OF A GASSIFIED LIQUID, AND BEVERAGE CARBONATOR

Abstract: A beverage carbonator comprises a carbonating apparatus including a chamber (14), in which a quantity of potable liquid is located, having an upper level (16). A quantity of carbon dioxide is maintained in the space (17) above the upper level (16), at a relatively high pressure. Extending from the chamber (14) is a circuit (22) which passes through a dispensing head (42), and returns to an inlet (21<u>b</u>) of the chamber, from which a conduit (23) extends, terminating at a position well below the level (16) of the liquid in the chamber. The conduit (23) is provided at a location just above the surface of the liquid, with a gas inlet (25), adjacent to which is a venturi device, such that as liquid flows through the conduit into the chamber, gas is drawn from the space above the level of liquid into the liquid. Thus, liquid is caused to flow into the chamber carrying with it carbon dioxide.

Description: Title: Apparatus for the delivery of a gassifϊed liquid, and beverage carbonator Description of Invention 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. Usually, 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. It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for enhancing mixing of a liquid and a gas. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided 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. Preferably 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. Preferably 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. Preferably the conduit is so directed as to produce a flow of liquid from the conduit which has a tangential component. It will be appreciated that whilst some of the gas entrained in the liquid flowing through the conduit will quickly become dissolved, as the liquid leaves the conduit free gas may be present, and thus desirably the conduit extends substantially the full depth of the chamber, such that the gas/liquid mixture is emitted at the bottom of the chamber. There may be provided 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. To further improve the dispersion of the gas within the liquid, there may be provided 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. Alternatively of course other means may be provided whereby the guide means maintains the same or a similar level to that of the liquid. Alternatively or in addition 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. In this way, the problem of "froth" occurring at the central part of the chamber is reduced, enabling improved gas dispersion to be obtained. The apparatus described above is particularly suitable for use as a beverage cooler/carbonator. Thus according to a further aspect of this invention there is provided 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. Preferably the carbonator comprises cooling means for liquid in the chamber. The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 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; and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view showing an outlet of a conduit of the carbonator. Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Figure 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. Thus, as liquid is fed to the chamber through the conduit 23, 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. In particular, 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. There is further provided with 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. By use of the float provided with the baffle, 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. Thus, during periods of zero demand, liquid is continuously circulated around the circuit 22, retaining the liquid at a uniform low temperature, and ensuring maximum carbonation of the liquid. At periods of demand, a tap of the dispensing head 42 is opened, to allow carbonated liquid to be withdrawn from the circuit, for use. In conventional manner, 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. Desirably as is shown in Figure 2, 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. Of course, if desired other forms of cooling means may be provided, to cool water entering the system through the conduit 48. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 Apparatus for the delivery of a gassifϊed 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 throueih the conduit entrains gas from the space. 2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conduit is connected to a supply of ungassified liquid. 3 Apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the conduit forms part of a circuit through which liquid is continuously circulated, the circuit extending through a dispensing head from which liquid may selectively be drawn from the circuit. 4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conduit comprises, at or adjacent to the gas inlet means, liquid flow restricting means whereat the area of the conduit through which the liquid passes is reduced, producing a reduction in pressure in 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. 5 Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the restricting means is in the form of a venturi. 6 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to impart a degree of angular momentum to the liquid flow from the conduit. 7 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conduit extends into the chamber at a lowermost portion thereof. 8 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is provided with a removable closure member in the base of the chamber. 9 Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the closure member provides an additional cavity into which a lower part of the conduit extends. 10 Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising guide means adapted to guide the gas/liquid mixture rising from the end of the conduit towards the side walls of the chamber. 11 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the guide means is located on or just above the surface of the liquid. 12 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the guide means comprises one or more baffles within the chamber. 13 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the guide means comprises a disc having a generally centrally located hole through which the conduit passes, and one or more baffles extending below the disc towards the conduit to guide generally upwardly moving gas/liquid away from the conduit. 14 A beverage carbonator comprising apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the conduit forming part of a circuit througli which liquid is continuously circulated, the circuit extending through a dispensing head of the carbonator, from which liquid may selectively be withdrawn from the circuit. 15 A carbonator according to claim 14 comprising cooling means for liquid in the chamber.

Inventors: SCARFFE MICHAEL FREDERICK, SCARFFE, MICHAEL, FREDERICK
Applicants: SCARFFE MICHAEL FREDERICK, WHITLENGE DRINK EQUIPMENT LTD, SCARFFE, MICHAEL, FREDERICK, WHITLENGE DRINK EQUIPMENT LIMITED
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B67D1
IPC codes: B67D1