US2647734A - Household carbonator - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 4, 1953 A. J. NICHOLAS HOUSEHOLD CARBONATOR Filed March 14, 1951 :inventor ANDREW JN/GHOLAS (ttornegs Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSEHOLD CARBONATOR Andrew J. Nicholas, Farmington, Conn. Application March 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,573

13 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid carbonating apparatus and more specificially to a corbonator which is particularly suited for household installations.

The use of carbonated water in the home 1s a common practice and substantial quantities of carbonated water are consumed in this manner. Heretofore, most carbonated water used in the home has been provided commercially in bottled form which creates a problem of storage, keeping adequate supplies on hand, breakage, etc. as well as being relatively expensive.` One alternative to the use of bottled carbonated water has been to employ small batch type household carbonators which are relatively difcult and cumbersome to operate and which are only moderately ecient and generally unsatisfactory, particularly where continuous and ample supplies of carbonated water are desired. Another alternatlve has been to install relatively complicated and expensive carbonators of the commercial type which generally are unsuited for household use from a size and cost standpoint.

It is an object of this invention to provide a continuous type carbonator which may be connected directly to a home water supply system and which may be effectively and efficiently operated by utilizing the pressures generally encountered in the home water supply system without the need for additional pumps, etc.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carbonator which is characterized by its simplified and compact construction and yet which will be eicient in operation and produce a highly palatable and good grade carbonated water at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbonator which may be disposed within a -conventional household refrigerator without modifying the same to any great extent and so as to avoid the need for auxiliary cooling apparatus.

Another object is to provide a household carrbonator having a minimum of moving parts which would be likely to wear out in service, which can be easily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled, and which will operate efciently under normal conditions in the household.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the featuresof construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings: l

The figure is a vertical cross sectional view of vliquid carbonating apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The carbonating apparatus shown in the drawing may be brieiiy described as comprising a differential pressure regulator In and a carbonating and dispensing container I2. It is the function of the regulator I0 to receive a supply of uncarbonated or sweet water and carbon dioxide under pressure and to then regulate the pressure 0f the latter relative to the former. The water and gas under regulated pressure then flow to the container I2 which provides a carbonating chamber C wherein the carbon dioxide gases are introduced to the water and entrained therein. The carbonated water thus produced is stored within the chamber C until drawn off by dispensing valve I4.

Referring to the diierential pressure regulator IG in more detail, it will be noted that the housing comprises a channeled body I6 having a reduced upper end I8 which is externally threaded to receive a cap 2l). The cap 26 has an internal annular shoulder 22 dening a circular recess 24. The shoulder 22 abuts the peripheral margin of a diaphragm 26 which is of substantially the same diameter as the reduced end portion I8 and the diaphragm 26 is secured against the end portion I8 by the threaded engagement of the cap 20 with the body I 6. The reduced end portion I8 also defines a circular recess 28 in the body I6 so that the diaphragm 26 provides a resilient separating wall between an upper chamber 30 defined by the recess 24 and a lower chamber 32 defined by the recess 28.

The upper chamber 30 is provided with an inlet 34 through the cap 20 which receives one end of a water pipe or tube 36 preferably provided with a shutoiT valve (not shown). The water inlet tube 36 communicates with a pressured water supply such as the household water supply system and the tube 36 may be permanently tapped to the system. Thus, it will be seen that water under household pressure is introduced to the upper chamber 3i), which will hereinafter be referred to as the water chamber.

Carbon dioxide is introduced to the regulator I I) from a conventional source (su-ch as a tank or cylinder) by means of a pipe or tube 4&1 which communicates with a radially directed channel 42 in the body I6. The channel 42 in turn communicates with a centrally disposed valve chamber 44 which is capped by a plug 46 threaded into a vertical aperture 48 in the body i6. The plug 46 has a central opening 50 affording communication between the lower Ichamber 32 and the valve chamber 44, A valve body 52 is disposed in the chamber 44 and has a stem 5I pro'- jecting through the opening 5I) into chamber 32 where it carries a disk 58 adjacent and below the diaphragm 26. The valve body 52 wardly by a coil spring 54 disposed 56 in the upper end of the plug 4S within a well so as to abut is biased upthe under side of the valve disk 53. In the upward position of the valve 52, the opening 5i) is closed so that the gas cannot enter the lower chamber 32.

As previously mentioned, the ldisk 5E vis closely adjacent the diaphragm 25, and in the closed position of the valve 5E the diaphragm 26 is shifted upwardly by the disk 58 so that a central boss Gil on the top surface of the .diaphragm closes a centrally disposed outlet 62 'in the water chamber 30.

In the aforedescribed closed position of the diaphragm 2G and the valve 52, the carbon dilled with carbonated water.

oxide gas under the pressure of a supply Lsource is conned within the chamber ill in the regulator IB. When water is initially introduced to the chamber 3Q, the diaphragm 25 is -urged downwardlyby the pressure of the water and the valve 52 is `opened against the force of the spring 5de The carbon dioxide within the valve chamber M is permitted .to escape through the aperture 5,0 vand well 56 .into the llower chamber 32., which will hereinafter be `rererred to as the gas chamber. If the pressure within the gas chamber 32 aided by the for-ce of the spring 55, becomes greater than the pressure within the water .chainber 3U, .the diaphragm 26 will be shifted upwardly to close .the water outlet 62 and the valve 52 will close `inlet 50 to the gas chamber 32,. lf, however, the combined forces of the spring and the gas pressure are equal to or less than the water pressure, the valve .52 and diaphragm will remain open so that the gas and water chambers will accommodate the ow -of their respective fluids. The gas chamber 32 is provided with .an outlet 64 communicating with container l2 by means of conduit 5.5.6, and the water outlet 52 communicates with container l2 by means of `conduit 53.

The container l2 comprises an open top, shelllike housing l@ closed by a cap l2 fitted with O ring seal 13 to denne the carbonating chamber C` The cap l2 is provided with apertured plugs 14 and 16 which receive the gas and water conduits 56 and t8, respectively. The plugs "i4 and 16 are threaded into suitable cavities in the cap 12 .and their respective apertures 15 and ll communicate with valve chambers 'F8 and 80 in the cap l2 adjacent and below the plugs. The valve chambers 1.8 and Bil retain valve bodies 8?, and 84, respectively, in spaced relation and the chambers are provided with outlets SS and SS leading to the carbonating chamber C. The water outlet 88 is provided with a reduced orice or nozzle 9D which introduces the water to the chamber C as a spray so that the gas, which is concurrently discharged into the chamber, may be effectively entrained within .the water.

The gas which enters the chamber C is at a lesser pressure than the water introduced to the chamber and it has been found that a lbs per square inch dierential is desirable. The differential occurs in the regulator l0 by means of providing valve 52 with a 10 llb. spring. The valve 52 is initially opened by the pressure of water in chamber Sil. When the pressure of gas in the chamber 32 is within l0 lbs. of the water pressure, the valve 52 will close. The gas pressure does not reach such a figure during carbonation since dow continues through the gas chamber 32 and the chamber C will be supplied with a rising column of carbonated water. The rising column of liquid will increase the pressure on the unentrained carbon dioxide within the chamber C and the gas chamber 32. The increased gas pressure in the chamber 32 causes the diaphragm 26 to rise when the gas pressure comes within 10 lbs. of the water pressure permitting valve 52 to close and at the same time the diaphragm will close water outlet 62 in the regulator it; 1t .has vbeen toundxtha't the gas pressure reaches the point ior closing Icperation when the chamber C is approximately two-thirds The unentrained gas .remaining in the chamber C is at a higher than normal pressure and a portion of this gas be entrained within the standing column of Water. v

The carbonated water within the chamber C is drawn off through the dispensingr valve M by means of a vertically arranged flow tube 32 which has its free end disposed in spaced relation .to the bottom of the chamber C. The upper end of the tube 9,2 communicates with a horizontal ow tube S5 which receives the dispensing valve M. Thus, when the valve Hl is opened, carbonated water will ow through the tubes S2 and 5@ under the pressure within the chamber C. A .rod 3.4i is disposed within the tube 92 in spaced relation and has a bifurcated upper end `95 which projects through .a suitable aperture 31 in the flow tube 96. The bfurcated end 95 abuts the base or a generally U-shaped member its having upwardly extending legs m2 and 194 which project through suitable apertures T06 .and ID in the cap l2 so as to extend into valve chambers "I8 and Bil. When the dispensing valve l is opened and carbonated water vilows through the tube 92 about the rod B4, the rod will be thrust upwardly by the action of the water and will in turn torce the U-shaped member '|66 upwardly. The free ends of the legs H32 and H14 which extend into the valve chambers TB and l'll are nested in cavities in valve bodies '82 and Bil, respectively, and when the rod 94 thrusts upwardly, the legs H12 and lli will shift the valve bodies upwardly to close the gas inlet T5 and the Water inlet ll. Thus, during the dispensing operation, chamber C is closed to the entry of carbon dioxide and water and the carbonated Water is dispensed under its own pressure. Since the iiow pressure decreases during the dispensing operation, the carbonated water dispensed has unusual eiervescent and bite qualities. When the dispensing operation ceases, the pressure within the chamber C will have been reduced suiriciently to permit the regulator i 0 to function in the previously described manner so that water and carbon dioxide may again be introduced to the chamber C.

Since in the preferred embodiment of the invention the household system provides the pressured water, it is conceivable that the water inlet pressure to the regulator I0 will vary as the system is tapped in other parts of the household. This will cause fluctuation of the diaphragm within the regulator I3 during the standby period when the chamber C is utilized merely as a storage chamber for the carbonated water. Due to the aforementioned fluctuations there is a tendency toward undesirable intermittent flow of water to the chamber C. This intermittent stream of Water could not be effectively carbonated with the result that water stored within the chamber C would lose some of its efferescent quality.

To permit such intermittent flow, a float l I0 is provided in the chamber C and guided for vertical movement by brackets l I2 which embrace the vertical flow tube 92. The float H0 carries an upwardly extending element lili which is apertured to loosely embrace the horizontal flow tube 96. The element ||4 has an upwardly opened channel ||6 which receives an appendage l I8 on lthe U-shaped member |00 adjacent and below the leg |04. When the level of the carbonated liquid within the chamber C reaches the desired point (two-thirds lled) the iioat ||0 moves upwardly thrusting against the appendage ||8 on the member |00 which then acts as a lever fulcrumed on the bifurcated end 95 of the rod 94. The leg |04 is thrust upwardly to shift the valve body 84 and thus close the water inlet so that Water cannot enter the chamber C. The water valve 84 remains closed due to the thrust of oat ||0 so that fluctuations of the diaphragm 26 occasioned by opening and closing the spigots in the household water supply system will not cause further ow of water into chamber C. The supply of carbonated water within the chamber remains at a constant level and retains its effervescent quality although stored within the chamber for a relatively long period.

'I'he aforedescribed Carbonating apparatus is characterized by its simplicity and compact arrangement and requires little, if any, maintenance. 'I'he carbonator functions without complicated valving and without the pumps and like equipment associated with commercial carbonating apparatus. Operating water pressure is supplied by the household system and a conventional source of pressured carbon dioxide .is utilized. The pressure of the carbon dioxide is regulated relative to the pressure of the water by means responsive to the pressure of the water. Carbonating action occurs at a pressure considerably less than the pressure obtaining in most commercial installations, fyet the water manufactured has an eiervescent quality comparable to that produced by any known commercial installation. The apparatus, due to its compact construction, may be installed within. alconventional household refrigerator without unduly restricting the available space and requires only a slight modification of the refrigerator for permanent installation so that a constant supply of chilled carbonated water will be available in the household.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof,

it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specinc features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber and a gas chamber,

each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, the inlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressured water and carbon dioxide, respectively, wall means supported by said housing between said chambers, said wall means being movable in response to the differential uid pressure in said chambers, valve means supported in said housing and movable with said wall means between an open position and a closed position wherein the outlet in one of said chambers and the inlet in the other of said chambers are closed, and means dening a carbonating chamber in communication with said outlets.

' 2. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber and a gas chamber, each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, the inlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressured water and carbon dioxide respectively, wall means supported by said housing between said chambers, said Wall means being movable in response to the diierential fluid pressure in said chambers, valve means supported in said housing for movement with said wall means between an open position and a closed position wherein the outlet in one of said chambers and the inlet in the other of said chambers are closed, means biasing said valve means toward closed position, and means dening a carbonating chamber in communication with said outlets.

3. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber and a gas chamber, each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, the inlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressured Water and carbon dioxide respectively, a resilient wall supported between said chambers, said wall being movable in response to the differential I luid pressure in said chambers, valve means supported in said housing and movable with said wall be- "tween an open position and a closed position wherein the outlet in said water chamber and the inlet in said gas chamber are closed, means biasing said valve means toward closed position, and means denning a carbonating chamber in communication with said outlets.

4. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber and a gas chamber each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, the inlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressured water and carbon dioxide respectively, a resilient wall supported by said housing between said chambers, said wall being movable in response to diierential iiuid pressure in said chambers between a position wherein it closes the outlet in said water chamber to a position within said gas chamber, valve means supported in said housing and movable with said wall to close the inlet in said gas chamber when the outlet in said water chamber ,is closed and to open the gas inlet when the water outlet is open, and means defining a Carbonating chamber in communication with said outlets.

5. Carbonating apparatus comprising means dening a Carbonating chamber having inlets connectible to a source of pressured water and carbon dioxide gas, respectively, flow control means having an inlet in said chamber and an externally disposed dispensing outlet, and valve means disposed in said chamber responsive to flow in said control means to close the chamber inlets.

6. Carbonating apparatus comprising means dening a Carbonating chamber having inlets connectible to sources of pressured water and carbon dioxide gas, respectively, ilow control means comprising a flow tube having an inlet disposed in said chamber and a dispensing valve having an externally disposed outlet, and valve means disposed in said chamber for closing said inlets, said valve means including a rod shiftably supported in said tube and responsive to 7 sures .of water and car-bon dioxide gas, said regulator having inlets, connectible to a pressured supply of waiter and carbon dioxide respectively, and having a water outlet and a gas outlet, means defining a carbonating chamber having inlets in communication with said water and gas outlets, respectively, new control means having an inlet in said chamber and an externally disposed dispensing outlet, .and valve means disposed in said chamber responsive to iiow in .said control means .to close the chamber inlets.

2,.. Carbonating .apparatus comprising a pressure regulator for regulating the relative pressures o the water and carbon dioxide gas, said regulator having inlets connectible to a pressured .supply of water and carbon dioxide 'respectively., and having water outlet and a gas outlet, means deining a carbonating chamber having inlets in communication with said water and .gas outlets, respectively, flow control means comprising a ilow tube having an inlet disposed in said carbonating chamber and .a dispensing valve having an externally disposed outlet, .and valve means disposed in said chamber for closing the valve inlets, said valve means including a rod sh'iftably supported in said tube and responsive to -luid ilow therein to shift said valve means to closed position.

9. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination .a pressure regulator having means for iaecomrnoc'iating the flow of water and carbon dioxide gas .from pressured sources, said regulator having means for regulating the relative pressures of said fluids, fluid pressure responsive valve means 'for closing said regulator to the flow of gas, means defining a carbonating chamber having a Water inlet and a gas inlet in communication with said regulator whereby said carbonating chamber will receive a column of carbonated water., thereby increasing the gas pressure in said chamber and .said regulator to effeet .closure of the regulator valve means at a predetermined liquid level in said chamber, and liquid level responsive means disposed in said carbonating chamber for closing the water inlet .to .said carbonat'lng chamber when -the liquid therein .reaches said predetermined level.

10. .Carbonating .apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulator having means for .accommodating the flow of water and carbon dioxide gas from .pressured sources, said regulator having means for regulating the relative pressures of said iiuids, iiuid pressure responsive valve means for closing said'regulator to the flow coi gas, means .deiining a carbonating chamber having a water .inlet .and a gas inlet in communication with .said Vregulator whereby said car- 4bonating chamber will receive a rising column .of .carbonated water, thereby 'increasing the gas pressure in said carbonating chamber and said regulator to effect closure of the regulator valve .means at a predetermined liquid level in said `ca'rbonat'ing chamber, valve means disposed in .said carbonating chamber in communication with the water inlet, and liquid level responsive .means for closing said last mentioned valve means when the liquid in said chamber reaches said predetermined level.

11. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulator having a water chamber and a carbon dioxide gas chamber separated by a resilient wall, each of said chambers 'having an outlet and an inlet connectible to a pressured source of their respective fluids, said wall being .movable in .response to iiuid pressures,

valve means movable with said wall from an open position to a closed position whereby the gas inlet is closed, means defining a carbonating chamber having a water and a gas inlet in communication with the 'regulator outletswhereby said carbonating chamber will receive an increasing column of carbonated water, thereby increasing the pressure in said carbonating lchamber and said gas chamber to effect closure of the vregulator valve means at a predetermined liquid level in said carbonating chamber, and liquid level responsive means disposed in said carbonating chamber for closing the water inlet to said carbonating chamber when the liquid therein reaches said predetermined level.

12. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulator having a water chamber and a carbon dioxide gas chamber separated by a resilient wall, each of said chambers having an outlet and inlet -connectible to a pressured source of their respective uids, said wall being movable in response to fluid pressures, valve means movable with said wall from an open position to a closed position whereby the gas inlet is closed, means deiining a car- 'bonating chamber having a water inlet and a gas inlet in communication with the regulator outlets whereby said carbonating chamber will receive a rising column of carbonated water, thereby increasing the pressure in said carbonating chamber and said gas chamber to effect closure of the regulator valve means at a predetermined liquid level in said carbonating chamber, valve means disposed in said carbonating chamber adjacent the water inlet, and liquid level responsive means disposed in said carbonating chamber for closing said last mentioned valve means when the liquid in said carbonating chamber reaches said predetermined level.

13. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulator having a water chamber and a carbon dioxide gas chamber separated by a resilient wall, each of said chambers having an outlet and an inlet connectible to a pressured source of their -respective fluids, said wall being movable in response to fluid pressures, valve means movable with said wall from an open position to a closed position wherein the gas inlet is closed, means defining a carbonat- .ing chamber having a water inlet and a gas inl'et in communication with the regulator outlets, valve means disposed in Veach of said last mentioned inlets, flow `control means having an inlet in said chamber and an externally vdisposed dispensing outlet, valve actuating .means responsive to iiow in said control .means to close said last .mentioned valve means, and liquid level responsive actuating means disposed in .said carbonating chamber for closing the valve means at the water inlet when the liquid in said carbonating chamber reaches a. predetermined level.

ANDREW J. NICHOLAS.

References Cited inthe file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number 'Name Date 1,272,299 Murphy July 9, i918 1,808,854 Malone June 9, 1931 1,840,859 'Ireanor Jan. l2, i932 '1,943,903 'Tre'anor Jan. 1'6, 1934 1,961,732 Bastian June 5, 1934 2,446,051 Leslie July 27, 1948

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