US2094778A - Carbonating machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5; 1937. J. ALEXANDER 2,094,778

CARBONATING MACHIN E Filed Aug. 31, 1955 Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIcE 1 Claim.

' This invention appertains to carbonating machines, and more particularly to machines for facilitating the filling of Seltzer bottles.

One of the primary objects of my invention is the provision of novel means for insuring the proper co-mingling of the liquid and the carbonic or other gas, whereby to form an effective sparkling beverage.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for forcing the liquid and gas under pressure through a series of novelly arranged chambers in such a manner that the liquid will be effectively broken up, whereby to cause the desired charging of the liquid with the gas.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of means for forcing the liquid under pressure into a passageway leading to one chamber, with a nozzle for the gas disposed centrally in the passageway having a series of radially extending outlets, so as to cause a turbulence within the passageway, and whereby the gas will be impinged against the liquid stream and co-mingle therewith as the liquid flows through the passageway.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a restricted outlet leading from the passageway for the liquid stream, whereby the liqu-id stream is caused to forcibly impinge against the top Wall of a chamber to break up the liquid stream, and thereby bring about the thorough mixing of the gas and liquid.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a series of chambers arranged one within the other, each chamber having restricted outlets leading to an adjacent chamber, so that the liquid stream will be subjected to a series of atomizing actions to bring about the proper carbonating of the beverage.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an exceptionally simple and durable carbonator of the above character, which will be efficient in use, and one that can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar-

rangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing: a Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my improved carbonating device.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central section through one of the carbonating units.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein 5 similar reference characters designate correspending parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved apparatus which comprises a centrally disposed shell or casing 5 containing one or more of the novel carbonating units U. 5

Disposed centrally below the shell 5 is the tank 6 for the carbonic or other gas, and this tube or tank 6 can be of any desired or preferred construction having a control valve 1. Detachably connected with the tube or tank 6 is the conducl0 tor pipe 8 for the gas, and a pressure gauge 9 can communicate therewith to determine the pressure of the gas flowing through said pipe. The pipe 8 is connected by means of a coupling ID with the base block II of the shell 5, and the 15 basecarries a nozzle l2 having a series of restricted, radially extending gas outlets I3.

Arranged at one side of the tankor tube ii for the carbonic gas is a water pump it, which can be of any desired character. The pump I4, how- 20 ever, is preferably of the rotary type, and is driven from an electric motor l5 having the desired rating. 7

Leading from one side of the pump M is the water-conducting pipe lfi, which may have a coil 5 I1 interposed in the length thereof. This pipe in turn communicates with a water-receiving tank l8. located at one side of the shell 5. A pressure gauge I'S can communicate with the waterreceiving tank I8. 30

A water inlet pipe 20 leads to the opposite side of the pump M from the water outlet pipe It. The pipe 2.0 can lead from any suitable source of supply.

Disposed on theother .side of the shell 5 from 5 the water-receiving tank I 8 is the carbonated beverage-receiving tank 21. This tank can also be provided with a pressure gauge 22.

Coupled with the outlet end of the carbonated beverage tank 2| is the lead-off pipe 23 for the 40 carbonated beverage, and this pipe may have incorporated therein a coil 24. The outlet end of the pipe 23 can be firmly secured to one face of a holding plate 25, and connected with the other side of the plate is the charging nozzle 45 26, which communicates with the said pipe 23. The Seltzer bottles (not shown) can be filled from the nozzle 26 in the ordinary way.

The various parts described can be, in actual practice, located in a desired compact manner 50 on a suitable base or support, so that the entire apparatus will take up a minimum amount of space.

Leading toward the shell from the water tank I8 is a water-conducting pipe 21, and leading from the shell 5 is a conductor pipe 28 for the carbonated beverage, which leads to the carbonated beverage-receiving tank 2 I. A check valve 29 is located within the length of the pipe 28, and a similar check valve 30 can be located within the length of the pipe 23, preferably between the carbonated beverage-receiving tank 2| and the coil 24.

Referring more specifically to the carbonating unit U, it will be noted that the same includes a series of inverted cup-shaped members 3| and 32. The member 32 is located centrally within the member 3 I and both of the members are threaded 1 onto a disc 33, which is provided with an axially disposed nozzle 34.

The nozzle 34 is threaded on a hollow boss 35 formed centrally on the base plate I I for the shell 5, and the hollow boss forms an interior passageway 35, in which is received the nozzle I2 of th gas outlet pipe.

The shell 5 is fitted over the base plate II and can be united therewith by suitable threads or the like, and a gasket 31 can be fitted between the base plate I I and a shoulder on the shell so as to form a fluid-tight connection therewith.

The water-conducting pipe 27 leading from the tank I8 is rigidly connected with the base I I, and a passageway 38 is formed in the base for communication with the pipe 21 and the passageway 36 below the restricted nozzle outlets I 3. The pipe 28 for the carbonated beverage is also connected with the base block II and has communication with the interior of the shell 5 through passageways 39 formed in the said block.

The water is forced under pressure by the pump I4 into the receiving tank I8, from whence the same flows into the restricted outlet 38 and into the passageway 36. As the water flows under pressure through the restricted outlet 38, the same is broken up in the passageway 36, and as the water is broken up and flows through the passageway 36, the same is subjected to a series of carbonic gas jets issuing from the restricted outlets I3. Thus, the liquid and the carbonic gas are initially co-mingled at this point.

The gas and liquid now flow through the restricted nozzle 34, and the same impinges against the top wall of the inverted cup-shaped member 32 and into the chamber defined thereby. The forcible impinging of the gas and liquid against the walls of the chambers further causes the comingling of the liquid and gas together. The member 32, adjacent to its lower end, is provided with a series of extremely fine outlets 40, which cause fine streams of the co-mingling gas and liquid to impinge against the side walls of the member 3|, and this further brings about the effective combining of the liquid and gas.

In the central portion of the member 3I, a restricted outlet 4| is provided, so that the carbonated beverage will issue from the member 3 I in a comparatively fine stream. 3

Particular attention is invited to the fact that one or more of the units U can be used, and where a series of the units U are utilized, the outlet 4| is coupled to an adjacent nozzle 34 of the next outlet.

In the showing in Figure 2, I have only shown one unit U within the shell 5, and consequently the carbonated beverage stream issuing from the outlet 4! impinges against the top wall of the shell 5, and the carbonated beverage fiows down into the shell through the passageways 39 into the pipe 28.

This carbonated beverage now flows through the receiving tank 2 I, through the coil 24, through the pipe 23, and into the nozzle 26.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple and durable means for combining a gas and. a liquid to bring about the forming of an effective carbonated beverage.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

A carbonator comprising a base block having a centrally disposed passageway opening out through the upper end thereof, means for introducing a gas and a liquid in said central passageway, a shell connected with said base block over the passageway, a carbonated beverage outlet pipe connected with the base block, said base block having a port communicating with the shell and with said outlet pipe, a carbonating unit fitted within the shell including a disc connected centrally with the base block, and an annular upstanding rib provided with internal and external threads, and a pair of inverted cup-shaped members disposed one within the other and threaded respectively with the internal and external threads of the rib, the disc having an axially disposed nozzle communicating with the innermost cup-shaped member and the passageway, said innermost cup-shaped member having a series of radially extending outlets disposed adjacent to the rib, and the outermost cup-shaped member having a centrally disposed outlet communicating with the interior of the shell and. terminating adjacent to the upper wall of said shell.

JAMES ALEXANDER.

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