Carbonation system and method

Abstract

The water carbonation method and apparatus of the present invention consists of a square mixer within a carbonated chamber. The mixer is partially filled with water. Carbon dioxide is then added above the level of water. A rotating member attached to the mixing motor then mixes the water and carbon dioxide to form a carbonated solution. Varying the time for which the carbonation operation is carried on may vary the degree of carbonation. After the specified carbonation cycle, excess carbon dioxide is then relieved through an exhaust solenoid and the remaining carbonated solution is released through the dispensing solenoid into a cup.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carbonation apparatus comprising: 
 a carbonation chamber;    a source of water;    a water inlet valve connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber;    a source of carbon dioxide gas;    a carbon dioxide inlet valve connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber;    a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber;    an exhaust gas valve connected to the carbonation chamber;    an exhaust gas silencer connected to the exhaust gas valve; and    a carbonated water dispensing valve connected to the carbonation chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas silencer reduces the speed of gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The carbonation apparatus comprising: 
 a rectangular carbonation chamber;    means for partially filling the carbonation chamber with water to a pre-determined level;    means for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation chamber above the water;    means for, mounted within the carbonation chamber, agitating the water to mix carbon dioxide gas into the water; and    means for dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber, wherein, when the carbonation chamber is filled to the pre-determined level, the volume ratio of liquid to gas is about 4 to 1.    
     
     
         4 . The carbonation apparatus comprising: 
 a carbonation chamber;    a source of water;    means for controlling water flow into the carbonation chamber from the source of water;    a source of carbon dioxide gas;    means for controlling carbon dioxide flow into the carbonation chamber from the source of carbon dioxide gas;    a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber capable of mixing the carbon dioxide into the water;    a exhaust gas valve connected to the carbonation chamber;    a carbonated water dispensing valve in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber; and    means for increasing and decreasing the amount of carbonation within the carbonated water, the means operatively selecting one of at least two pre-determined levels of carbon dioxide in the resulting carbonated water.    
     
     
         5 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for controlling water flow into the carbonation chamber further comprises: 
 a water inlet valve capable of partially filling the carbonation chamber to a volume ratio of water to gas of approximately 4 to 1.    
     
     
         6 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for controlling carbon dioxide flow into the carbonation chamber further comprises: 
 a carbon dioxide inlet valve; and    a pressure regulator capable of regulating the carbon dioxide gas flow into the carbonation chamber at a rate of approximately two grams per second.    
     
     
         7 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein one of the pre-determined levels of carbon dioxide in the resulting carbonated water is approximately six grams of carbon dioxide per liter of water.  
     
     
         8 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein one of the pre-determined levels of carbon dioxide in the resulting carbonated water is approximately four grams of carbon dioxide per liter of water.  
     
     
         9 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for controlling water flow into the carbonation chamber is positioned vertically over the carbonated water dispensing valve.  
     
     
         10 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a pressure regulator capable of regulating the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas introduced into the carbonation chamber to a pressure of about 5 bar, with the pressure being maintained during mixing.    
     
     
         11 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an exhaust gas silencer capable of silencing noise from gas released through the exhaust gas valve.    
     
     
         12 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the exhaust gas silencer further comprises: 
 a housing having at least one inlet and one outlet, the housing having an internal cavity with a filter therein, the internal cavity being in communication with a first inlet, the first inlet capable of receiving gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber, and the outlet being in communication with the first inlet and capable of receiving gas after the gas passes through the filter.    
     
     
         13 . A carbonation apparatus comprising a carbonation chamber, a source of water, a valve for controlling water flow into the carbonation chamber connecting the source of water to the carbonation chamber, a source of carbon dioxide gas, a valve for controlling carbon dioxide flow into the carbonation chamber connecting the source of carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation chamber, a rotatable mixer within the carbonation chamber mixing carbon dioxide gas into the water, a gas exhaust valve releasing gas from the carbonation chamber, and a carbonated water dispensing valve in communication with the carbonation chamber dispensing carbonated water from the carbonation chamber, and 
 a user operated control panel for increasing and decreasing the amount of carbonation within the carbonated water operatively selects one of at least two predetermined levels of carbon dioxide in the resulting carbonated water.    
     
     
         14 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , the valve for controlling water flow into the carbonation chamber comprising: 
 a water inlet valve capable of partially filling the carbonation chamber to a volume ratio of water to gas of approximately 4 to 1.    
     
     
         15 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a pressure control switch capable of sensing the pressure of carbon dioxide in the carbonation chamber.    
     
     
         16 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a controller capable of selectively operating the carbon dioxide inlet valve, the gas exhaust valve, the water inlet valve, the carbonated water dispensing valve, and the mixer.    
     
     
         17 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , the valve for controlling carbon dioxide flow into the carbonation chamber comprising: 
 a carbon dioxide inlet valve; and    a pressure regulator regulating the carbon dioxide gas flow into the carbonation chamber at a rate of approximately two grams per second.    
     
     
         18 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a pressure regulator capable of regulating the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas introduced into the carbonation chamber to a pressure of about 5 bar, with the pressure being maintained during mixing.    
     
     
         19 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein a pre-determined level of carbon dioxide in the resulting carbonated water is approximately six grams of carbon dioxide per liter of water.  
     
     
         20 . The carbonation apparatus according  claim 13 , wherein a pre-determined level of carbon dioxide in the resulting carbonated water is approximately four grams of carbon dioxide per liter of water.  
     
     
         21 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the carbonation chamber is rectangular.  
     
     
         22 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the water inlet and carbonated water dispensing valves are in a vertical combination.  
     
     
         23 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the valve for controlling water flow into the carbonation chamber and the carbonated water dispensing valve are arranged vertically.  
     
     
         24 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an exhaust gas silencer capable of silencing noise from the gas pressure released through the gas exhaust valve.    
     
     
         25 . The carbonation apparatus according to  claim 24 , the exhaust gas silencer comprising: 
 a housing having at least two inlets and one outlet, the housing having an internal cavity being in communication with a first inlet and a second inlet, the first inlet receiving gas being relieved from the carbonation chamber and the second inlet receiving water vented from the carbonation chamber, the vented water being mixed with the relieved gas, and the outlet receiving the mixed water and gas from the cavity.