Patent Publication Number: US-2016219919-A1

Title: Seal and Anti Foam Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/808,317 filed on Apr. 4, 2013. The content of that prior application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to seals and antifoam devices that may be utilized in a carbonation apparatus and methods for forming a carbonated batch of a finished beverage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Current carbonated beverages may be formed by using a carbonator to carbonate a water source and then introducing a flavored syrup concentrate to make a carbonated beverage. Additionally, prior art apparatus may include a small C02 cartridge that introduces carbonation under pressure into a vessel of water, to which syrup or other ingredients are added to create a finished beverage. 
     However, prior art carbonation apparatus are limited in an amount of carbonation that they introduce to the beverage because they do not agitate the beverage or have the ability to vary the pressure to influence a carbonation level. Additionally, typical prior art apparatus may be utilized to only carbonate a water source and do not carbonate a finished beverage or allow for the carbonation of customized different beverages without cross contamination. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for a method and apparatus for fast carbonation of a pre-mixed beverage or final finished beverage on an individual basis such that the carbonation level may be adjusted to various levels. There is also a need in the art for a seal and antifoaming device that prevents liquid from exiting a pressure vessel during a venting procedure to prevent contamination of the carbonation apparatus. There is a further need in the art for a seal and antifoaming device that separates a liquid and gas during the venting process and is easy to clean and is reusable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a seal for use with a pressure vessel and cap is disclosed. The seal and antifoam device includes a body formed of a sealing material. The body includes a sealing edge that contacts the pressure vessel and cap sealing the cap relative to the pressure vessel. The seal includes a labyrinth preventing contact of a liquid within the pressure vessel with the cap during a carbonation process. 
     In another aspect, there is disclosed a carbonation apparatus that includes a pressure vessel with a cap that has a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The carbonation device also includes a seal. A locking mechanism removably locks the cap and seal and antifoam device relative to the pressure vessel. The seal includes a labyrinth preventing contact of a liquid within the pressure vessel with the cap during a carbonation process. 
     In another aspect, there is disclosed a method of forming a carbonated beverage in a batch that includes the steps of: providing a carbonation device; providing a locking mechanism; providing a pressure vessel including a cap, the cap including a gas inlet and a gas outlet, introducing a liquid beverage into the pressure vessel; locking a seal and cap relative to the pressure vessel using the locking mechanism; introducing gas at a specified pressure for a predetermined time and agitating the liquid beverage forming a carbonated beverage wherein the seal includes a labyrinth preventing contact of a liquid within the pressure vessel with the cap during a carbonation process. 
     A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments that are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a pressure vessel, cap, and seal in a clamp in accordance with the principals of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a seal in accordance with the principals of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the seal of  FIG. 2  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the seal of  FIG. 2  along line B-B. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the pressure vessel, cap and seal of  FIG. 1  illustrating the flow of gas into the pressure vessel during the carbonation stage of a carbonation cycle; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the pressure vessel, cap and seal of  FIG. 1  illustrating the agitation of liquid and gas in the pressure vessel during the carbonation state of a carbonation cycle; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the pressure vessel, cap and seal of  FIG. 1  illustrating the venting stage of a carbonation cycle; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a pressure vessel, cap and seal having a cover; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional perspective view of the seal and cover shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a pressure vessel including a seal and locking mechanism including a cap prior to introduction of the pressure vessel within the housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The description that follows describes, illustrates and exemplifies one or more embodiments of the invention in accordance with its principles. This description is not provided to limit the invention to the embodiment(s) described herein, but rather to explain and teach the principles of the invention in order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand these principles and, with that understanding, be able to apply them to practice not only the embodiment(s) described herein, but also any other embodiment that may come to mind in accordance with these principles. The scope of the invention is intended to cover all such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 
     In general, the carbonation process may be described utilizing Henry&#39;s Law which states that at a constant temperature the amount of a given gas that is dissolved in a given type and volume of liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of that gas in equilibrium with the liquid. By controlling the CO2 pressure at varying levels the amount of dissolved gas being absorbed allows a user to create beverages having varying amounts of carbonation to create a different taste and feel to the human palate. 
     The apparatus and method of the present invention may be implemented by placing a finished beverage which may include water, flavoring, syrups and other additives in a pressure vessel and pressurizing it with CO2 to allow the gas to saturate the liquid creating a carbonated beverage. By controlling the CO2 pressure introduced into the pressure vessel, the level of carbonation in a drink can be changed from a highly carbonated liquid to a lower level carbonated liquid. Agitation of the liquid within the pressure vessel reduces the time needed to saturate the liquid and improves accuracy of the carbonation. 
       FIG. 1  shows a seal  10  used in a batch carbonation device or apparatus  12 . Additional details of the batch carbonation device, excluding the seal disclosed herein, are shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13,/790,687, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. The batch carbonation device  12  includes a pressure vessel  14  and cap  16  and a clamping device  18  that removably seals the cap  16 , seal  10  and pressure vessel  14 . In one aspect, the clamping device  18  includes a sanitary style flange and clamp that holds the components together and maintains pressure between the pressure vessel  14  and cap  16 . In one aspect, the cap  16  includes a gas in  20  and gas out  22  port. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the seal  10 . The seal body of the seal  10  may be formed of silicone or of any medium durometer memory material, such as BUNA-N. The seal is generally disc shaped, having an outer diameter. The seal  10  has a top surface  30  and a bottom surface  26  opposite the top surface. The seal  10  includes a sealing portion  25  proximate the outer diameter. The sealing portion  25  has an annular ridge, also referred to as a half O-ring structure  24 , formed on and extending from the bottom surface  26  proximate the outer diameter. Additionally, annular crush ribs  28  may be formed on a top surface  30 . The half O-Ring structure  24  and crush ribs  28  seal the cap  16  and vessel  14  when under pressure during a carbonation cycle. 
     The seal  10  also includes a circular area or cavity also referred to herein as an outer channel. The outer channel  32  is radially inward from the half o-ring structure  24  and extends downward from the sealing portion  25 . The outer channel  32  corresponds to a gas in port  20  and gas out port  22 , that extend through the cap  16 . The outher channel allows the seal  10  to be placed in various positions without impeding the gas in  20  and gas out  22  ports. The outer channel  32  maximizes the area in the vessel  14  and prevents the seal  10  from impeding the gas out port  22  during depressurizing when a force may be applied to the seal  10  causing it to deform or change shape. 
     The seal  10  also includes a center section  33  located radially inward of the outer channel  32 . The center section includes an annular inner channel  34 , a porting cavity  36  and a valve  38 . As shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the inner channel  34  is concentric to and located inside the outer channel  32 . A first wall  44  extends upward from the top surface  30  and separates outer channel  32  and inner channel  34 . The porting cavity  36 , is located inside of the inner channel  36 . A second wall  54  extends upwards from the top surface, and defines porting cavity  36  and separates inner channel  34  and porting cavity  36 . The valve  38 , shown as a flap valve, allows gas to pass between the vessel  14  and the porting cavity  36 . The valve  38  also diffuses the energy of the liquid contained in the vessel  14 . The inner channel  34  and the porting cavity  36  are designed to diffuse and trap any liquids that bypass the flap valve  38  and to prevent those liquids from contacting the gas in and gas out ports  20  and  22  to prevent contamination. When the vessel  14  and seal  10  are placed in the carbonation device and clamped down, the flap valve  38  and inner channel  34  and the porting cavity  36  seal relative to the cap  16 . 
     A plurality of first ports  40  are located in the first wall  44  and pneumatically connect outer channel  32  to inner channel  34 . A plurality of second ports  42  are located in the second wall  54  and pneumatically connect inner channel  34  to porting cavity  36 . The first ports  40  and second ports  42  thereby create a pneumatic circuit between outer channel  32 , the inner channel  34  and the porting cavity  36 . That pneumatic circuit is sometimes referred to herein as a labyrinth  46 . During carbonation and venting stages, gas is allowed to pass through first and second ports  40 ,  42  to permit gas to pass through the labyrinth  46 . By forcing the gas to pass through the labyrinth en route between the gas in and gas out ports and the vessel, the liquid transfer from the vessel  14 , including foam that may have been formed during carbonation, to the gas in and gas out ports  20 ,  22  through the labyrinth  46  is minimized. In one aspect shown in  FIG. 2 , the first and second ports  40 ,  42  may be positioned opposite, e.g. 90 degrees, relative to each other to prevent spray from escaping the seal  10  when gas is vented from the vessel  14  during a carbonation cycle. In one aspect, the walls  44  and  54  contact the cap  16  to provide structural rigidity to the seal  10  relative to the cap  16  and to prevent the seal  10  from collapsing against and sealing the gas out port  22  when the vessel  14  is pressurized. Walls  44  and  54  are positioned radially inward with respect to the gas out port  22  and define a boundary of the inner and outer channels  34 ,  36 . It is contemplated that a single first port and single second port could be used. 
     In one embodiment, the center section may include a cover  48  as best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The cover  48  may be positioned over the inner channel  34  and porting cavity  36  and may be removed for cleaning. The cover  48  is generally disc shaped, having a sidewall that extends downward to engage wall  44 . The cover  48  may minimize any splashing that may occur with the liquid that is contained in the vessel  14  and prevents the liquid from contacting a surface of the cap  16  to maintain a sanitary process and structure for the carbonation device  12 . 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate the process of forming a carbonated beverage using the seal  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a non-carbonated liquid is poured into the pressure vessel  14  and the seal  10  is positioned on top of the pressure vessel  14 . The half O-ring structure  24  may be used to align the seal  10  relative to a corresponding groove in the pressure vessel  14 . Next, the pressure vessel  14  and seal  10  are placed in the carbonation device  12  and the clamp  18  is actuated to compress the seal  10  between the cap  16  and vessel  14  to maintain pressure within the vessel  14 . A first chamber  62  is defined between the cap  16  and the seal  10  and a second chamber  64  is defined by the pressure vessel and seal  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  in a next step, gas is metered into the vessel  14  to a desired pressure. During this step, gas flows from the gas in port  20 , into the seal  10 , through the labyrinth  46  of the seal  10 , through the valve  38  in the seal  10  and into the second chamber  64  and the pressure vessel  14 . 
     The pressure vessel  14  is then agitated to carbonate the liquid in the pressure vessel. During the agitation cycle, the structure of the seal  10  diffuses energy during the agitation cycle thus controlling and containing any liquid that exits the vessel  14  through the valve  38  and maintains any such liquid in within the labyrinth  46  of the seal  10 , thereby preventing contamination of the gas in and gas out ports  20 ,  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the carbonation cycle is completed, gas is vented from the pressure vessel  14 , through the labyrinth  46 , to the gas out port  22  at a set rate to reduce foaming and to prevent the escaping gas from transporting liquid or foam to the cap  16  and gas out port  22 . When pressure within the vessel reaches a predetermined level, such as 5 PSI or less, the pressure vessel  14  and seal and antifoam device  10  may be removed from the carbonation device  12 . Next, the seal and antifoam device  10  may be removed from the vessel  10  allowing the seal and antifoam device to be cleaned and reused. The carbonated liquid may be removed from the vessel  14  to be served as a carbonated beverage. 
     While specific embodiments have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those presented herein could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the fill breadth of the appended claims and any equivalent thereof.