CARBONATION APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF GAS TO LIQUID

Abstract

The invention relates to a carbonation apparatus (10), in particular for the introduction of carbon dioxide to liquid, having a gas outlet which is configured to be introduced into a container (7) which can be filled with liquid, a gas connector which is fluidically connected to the gas outlet via a controllable valve (4), a control device (5) which is configured to control the valve (4), comprising, furthermore: a fixture (1) with a weight determining device for determining a weight of a gas cylinder (3) which is received in the fixture (1) and is connected to the gas connector.

Claims

1. A carbonation apparatus (10) for the introduction of carbon dioxide to liquid, comprising: a gas outlet which is configured to be introduced into a container (7) which can be filled with liquid, a gas connector which is fluidically connected to the gas outlet via a controllable valve (4), a control device (5) which is configured to control the valve (4), and a fixture (1) with a weight determining device for determining a weight of a gas cylinder (3) which is received in the fixture (1) and is connected to the gas connector.

2. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the control device (5) actuating the valve (4) in a manner which is dependent on the determined weight of the gas cylinder (3).

3. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the control valve (5) actuating the valve (4) in a manner which is dependent on a degree of carbonation which can be set by a user.

4. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the control device (5) being configured to detect a container volume of a container which is connected to the gas outlet, and to actuate the valve (4) in a manner which is dependent on the detected container volume.

5. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 4, wherein the container volume of the container and/or the liquid volume of a liquid in the container (7) can be detected for the control device (5) by way of input on an operating element (6) of the control device (5).

6. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 4, the control device (5) comprising a sensor for detecting the container volume of the container and/or the liquid volume of a liquid in the container (7).

7. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 5, the control device (5) being configured to specify a filling level value, determined in a manner which is dependent on the weight of the gas cylinder, for the filling level of the gas cylinder.

8. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the control device (5) varying the opening time of the valve (4) in a manner which is dependent on a parameter.

9. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the carbonation apparatus (10) being of integral configuration with a conditionable water system.

10. The carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the fixture (1) comprising a holder (20) which can be pivoted about a rotational axis by means of two bearing journals (21, 22), two load cells (24, 25) being provided in each case below the bearing journals (21, 22) as part of the weight determining device.

11. A method for the introduction of gas to liquid with the use of a carbonation apparatus (10) according to claim 1, the method comprising: introducing of the gas outlet into a container (7) which is filled at least partially with a liquid; determining of a weight of a gas cylinder (3) which is received in the fixture (1) and is connected to the gas connector; and actuating of the valve (4) which is arranged in a fluidic connection from the gas connector to the gas outlet, by way of the control device (5) in a manner which is dependent on the determined weight of the gas cylinder (3).

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: receiving of an input of a degree of carbonation; and actuating of the valve (4) additionally in a manner which is dependent on the degree of carbonation which is set by the user.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: detecting of a container volume of a container which is connected to the gas outlet; and actuating of the valve (4) additionally in a manner which is dependent on the detected container volume.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: detecting of a liquid volume of a liquid which is situated in the container (7); and actuating of the valve (4) additionally in a manner which is dependent on the detected liquid volume.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising determining of a filling level value in a manner which is dependent on the weight of the gas cylinder (3), and outputting of the filling level value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In the following text, the present invention will be explained in greater detail on the basis of the appended drawings, the figures being described as follows:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a carbonation apparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment; and

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a diagrammatic sectional drawing of a fixture of a carbonation apparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the following text, typical embodiments of the invention will be described on the basis of the figures; the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by way of the claims. In the case of the description of the embodiment, identical designations are used in some circumstances for identical or similar parts in different figures and for different embodiments, in order to make the description clearer. This does not mean, however, that corresponding parts of the invention are restricted to the variants which are shown in the embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of a carbonation apparatus 10 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. A gas cylinder 3 is received in a fixture 1. The gas cylinder 3 is suspended freely in a gas cylinder space 9 which can be, for example, a base cabinet of a kitchen unit or a dedicated housing of the carbonation apparatus.

[0029] A control device 5 determines a mass of the gas cylinder 3 by way of a force sensor 2 which is connected to the fixture 1. A connection to the force sensor can be established, for example, wirelessly or via an electrically conductive medium.

[0030] A degree of carbonation which is set by a user is transmitted via an operating element 6 to the control device 5, it being possible for the transmission to take place wirelessly or via an electrically conductive medium. In the case of further embodiments, the carbonation apparatus comprises a digital interface, for example for receiving a degree of carbonation, or the control device comprises a memory, in which a degree of carbonation for a code which can be received via a sensor is stored. The sensor can be, for example, a near field communication sensor such as, for example, an RFID sensor, or an optical sensor, for example for capturing QR codes.

[0031] The controller 5 determines a predefined time duration for which the valve 4 is to be opened from the mass of the gas cylinder, which has been detected with the aid of the force sensor 2, and the degree of carbonation, with the result that the degree of carbonation is achieved in a liquid in a container 7 upon feeding of gas from the gas cylinder 3. Here, the control device 5 also takes into consideration a container volume of the container 7, a degree of filling of the container 7 with liquid, for example water, or a liquid volume of a liquid which is received in the container 7.

[0032] After the time duration is determined, the control device 5 actuates the valve for the time duration, with the result that the open valve allows gas to flow from the gas cylinder 3 via a pressure line 8 into the container. In this way, gas is added to the liquid in the container 7, for example water, via the pressure line 8.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic, partially shown sectional view of elements of a typical fixture of embodiments. A gas cylinder (not shown in FIG. 2) can be held in a holder 20. To this end, the holder 20 has a thread in a region 23 of the holder 20, into which thread the upper end piece of a gas cylinder can be screwed. A gas connector 28 is provided at the upper end of the region 23 of the holder 20, which gas connector 28 can receive gas from a gas cylinder which is screwed into the thread. The gas cylinder can be screwed into the thread from below, with the result that it is ensured that only the gaseous phase escapes and not the liquid phase of the CO.sub.2.

[0034] In the case of further embodiments, bayonet fittings or other fasteners can also be provided.

[0035] In order to facilitate a swap of the gas cylinder in the holder 20, the holder 20 can be pivoted about a rotational axis. To this end, the holder is mounted by way of a left-hand first bearing journal 21 and a right-hand second bearing journal 22 in corresponding recesses of a housing part or in a bearing part which is provided for this purpose. The bearing journals 21 and 22 enable pivoting of the gas cylinder forward in order to facilitate the swap of the gas cylinder.

[0036] A leadthrough for gas which is received via the gas connector 28 from a gas cylinder which is received in a holder 20 is integrated into the second bearing journal 22. The gas is conducted further through a line 27 further to a valve (reference numeral 4 in FIG. 1).

[0037] A first load cell 24 is arranged on the right and a second load cell 25 is arranged on the left in each case in a stationary region below the bearing journals in respective recesses of the housing part or the bearing part of the holder. An electrical connector 26 is also shown relating to the second load cell in FIG. 2. The electrical connector of the first load cell 24 is concealed in the sectional view of FIG. 2. A movement of the electrical connectors 26 of the load cells 24 and 25 is avoided by way of the arrangement of the load cells 24 and 25 in stationary regions.

[0038] The bearing journals 21 and 22 in each case always press on the corresponding load cell 24 and 25. Therefore, the load cells 24 and 25 measure the weight of the holder 20 if the gas cylinder is not inserted, and measure the weight of the holder 20, the gas cylinder (empty) and the CO.sub.2 in the gas cylinder if the gas cylinder is inserted.

[0039] In the case of typical embodiments, the respective weight of the gas cylinder is defined clearly in each case for certain sizes of the gas cylinder and is stored, for example, in a look-up table. In the case of embodiments, it can be ensured via the holder, for example by way of certain threads, or by way of an RFID communication, that only clearly defined gas cylinders, for example, can be used with certain defined connectors. As a result, it can be ensured that the weight of the gas cylinder is also known to the control apparatus. In addition or as an alternative, the safety can be provided via an optional RFID communication between an RFID chip of the gas cylinder and the control device.

[0040] The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments; rather, the scope of the invention is defined by way of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0041] 1 Fixture [0042] 2 Force sensor [0043] 3 Gas cylinder [0044] 4 Valve [0045] 5 Control device [0046] 6 Operating element [0047] 7 Container [0048] 8 Pressure line [0049] 9 Gas cylinder space [0050] 10 Carbonation apparatus [0051] 20 Holder [0052] 21 First bearing journal [0053] 22 Second bearing journal [0054] 23 Region for receiving the gas cylinder [0055] 24 First load cell [0056] 25 Second load cell [0057] 26 Electrical connector [0058] 27 Line [0059] 28 Gas connector