Carbonation unit and process for carbonating a beverage

Abstract

A carbonation unit which includes a carbonation chamber and an expansion chamber is employed for use in beverage dispensers. The carbonation unit also provides a process for carbonation of a beverage that includes reducing the pressure in the carbonation chamber to a dispensing pressure through the use of the gas expansion chamber.

Claims

1. A carbonation unit, comprising a carbonation chamber having a beverage inlet for introducing beverage into the carbonation chamber, a pressurized gas inlet for introducing pressurized carbon dioxide into the carbonation chamber, a gas expansion outlet at an upper end of the carbonation chamber, and a carbonated beverage outlet; and a gas expansion chamber configured for expansion of gas therein, the gas expansion chamber linked to the gas expansion outlet through a sealable expansion link configured to selectively open and close, the gas expansion chamber linked to the gas expansion outlet to receive gas from an upper end of the carbonation chamber when the sealable expansion link is open without receiving carbonated beverage from the carbonation chamber effective to reduce gas pressure in the carbonation chamber.

2. The carbonation unit of claim 1, being configured for operating in a duty cycle comprising (i) a carbonation phase in which pressurized carbon dioxide is introduced into the carbonation chamber to produce a carbonated beverage, and (ii) an expansion phase, after conclusion of the carbonation phase, in which the expansion link is opened to reduce the gas pressure in the carbonation chamber.

3. The carbonation unit of claim 1 wherein the expansion phase causes the reduction of pressure to a dispensing pressure and the duty cycle comprises (iii) a dispensing phase in which the carbonated beverage is dispensed through the carbonated beverage outlet by the force of the dispensing pressure.

4. The carbonation unit of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber comprises a draining outlet for draining liquid therefrom.

5. The carbonation unit of claim 3, wherein the draining outlet is opened at the end of or following the dispensing phase.

6. The carbonation unit of claim 2, comprising or being associated with a control module for controlling the duty cycle.

7. The carbonation unit of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas inlet has a nozzle that, in use, is immersed in the beverage within the carbonation chamber.

8. The carbonation unit of claim 1, wherein the beverage outlet is positioned at a bottom end of the carbonation chamber.

9. The carbonation unit of claim 1, comprising an integral beverage cooling unit.

10. The carbonation unit of claim 9, comprising two concentric chambers in liquid communication with one another, of which a second chamber envelops a first chamber, one of said chambers being a cooling chamber and the other being said carbonation chamber.

11. The carbonation unit of claim 10, wherein said first chamber is the carbonation chamber and said second chamber is the cooling chamber, optionally wherein (i) the two chambers are separated by a heat-conducting wall, and/or (ii) the carbonation unit comprises a cooling element within said cooling chamber.

12. The carbonation unit of claim 10, wherein the expansion chamber is integral with the two concentric chambers.

13. The carbonation unit of claim 10, comprising an initialization vent for permitting release of residual gas from within the unit, optionally wherein the vent is linked to a duct that links the first and second chambers.

14. A process for carbonating a beverage, comprising: (a) introducing beverage into a carbonation chamber; (b) introducing pressurized carbon dioxide into the carbonation chamber under pressure and for a time sufficient to carbonate the beverage; (c) linking an upper end of the carbonation chamber to a gas expansion chamber to permit flow of gas from a head space formed above the beverage to the gas expansion chamber, thereby cause reduction in pressure within the carbonation chamber to a dispensing pressure; and (d) propelling the beverage out from the carbonation chamber, the propelling force being the dispensing pressure.

15. The process of claim 14, comprising repeating the steps sequence two or more times.

16. The process of claim 14 comprising cooling the beverage introduced into the carbonation chamber.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the beverage is cooled prior to its introduction into the carbonation chamber, optionally wherein the beverage that is introduced into the carbonation chamber egresses from a cooling chamber.

18. A beverage dispenser, comprising a carbonation unit of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are external views of a carbonation unit according to an embodiment of this disclosure, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view from above; FIG. 1B is a perspective view from below; and FIG. 1C is a top elevation.

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B are longitudinal cross-sections along respective lines A-A and B-B, seen in FIG. 1C.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating the operational cycle of the unit of FIGS. 1A-2B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIGS. 1A-2B include schematic representations of several views of a carbonation unit according to an embodiment of this disclosure. As is no doubt clear to a person versed in the art, the described unit is only an example and this disclosure is by no means limited to this embodiment.

(6) While the carbonation unit of this disclosure is in principle usable for carbonating any type of beverage, a typical beverage is water. Thus, in the following description the unit will be described with reference to water as the beverage that is being carbonated, it being understood that this is illustrative and not intended to be limiting. As can be appreciated, the beverage may also be other than water, such as flavored water, alcoholic beverages, natural juices, etc.

(7) Unit 100, shown in FIGS. 1A-2B, includes body 102 extending between an upper base plate 104 and a bottom base plate 106. The body and base plates may be made of plastic materials, metal, other polymeric materials, ceramics, etc. The unit has two concentric chambers including a carbonation chamber 108 enveloped by a cooling chamber 110. The carbonation chamber has a water inlet 112, linked to the cooling chamber 110 through conduit 114 that extends from a port 118 within cooling chamber 110 and is fitted with a valve element 116. In use, once valve 116 is opened, a link is established between the cooling chamber 110 and the carbonation chamber 108 to permit cooled water to flow out of the cooling chamber into the carbonation chamber. Conduit 114 is fitted with vent 120 which permits, when needed (for example after first filling or during use), to release gas (e.g. air or vapor) which may be entrapped within the cooling chamber and which, if not released, may have an effect on the proper operation of the unit.

(8) FIGS. 1A-2B show the unit in isolation. In use, the unit is linked to other functional components including, among others, a water source and a source of pressurized carbon dioxide. These additional elements are illustrated schematically as boxes in FIG. 2A or 2B.

(9) The cooling chamber has a water entry port 122 which is linked to a water source 124, typically a water line or a water reservoir. The force that propels the flow of the water into the unit, i.e. its entry into the cooling chamber, and then its flow from there to the carbonation chamber, may be by a pump (not shown) fitted onto line 126 that feeds the water into port 122; or where source 124 is the water line it may be the pressure within the water line. Where the propelling force is a pump, its activation may coincide with the opening of valve 116.

(10) The carbonation chamber has also a pressurized gas inlet 128 that in use is linked to a pressurized carbon dioxide source 130. The pressurized gas inlet 128 ends with a nozzle 132 that, in use, is immersed within the water in the carbonation chamber. In this specific embodiment, the carbonation chamber 108 is filled with water up to about line 134, the level being controlled by a liquid sensor 136. Another liquid sensor 140 is found at the bottom end of the unit, fitted within bore 141 formed in a plug member 142 that is inserted into the central bore of bottom base plate 106. Plug member 142 is fitted with two O-rings 144 that ensure a liquid-tight seal. Once liquid sensor 136 becomes immersed in the water, an electrical circuit is closed between sensor 136 and sensor 140 through the water, thereby issuing a signal to a control unit (not shown) that consequently causes valve 116 to shut off. Thus, in use, there is a water-free head-space 138 that remains within the carbonation chamber after filling the chamber with water to be carbonated.

(11) Unit 100 also includes an expansion chamber 150 linked to expansion outlet 152 of the carbonation chamber through expansion link 154 which is sealable by a valve element 156 fitted thereon. The carbonation chamber also includes a carbonated water outlet 160 which is linked through conduit 162, fitted with a valve element 163 to a carbonated water dispensing outlet, shown schematically as block 164. Valve 163 is closed during carbonation but is opened to permit dispensing of the carbonated water out of outlet 164 by the force of the dispensing pressure remaining within the carbonation chamber after the expansion phase (see below).

(12) The expansion chamber 150 is formed in the bottom base plate 106 and has an annular shape defined around plug 142. Expansion chamber 150 has a draining outlet 166, which in use is linked to a valve (not shown) that may be opened at a suitable time during the operational cycle (see below) to drain liquid that may have accumulated in the chamber as a result of condensation or accumulation of aerosol droplets.

(13) The carbonation chamber is also fitted with a conduit 168 which is linked to a pressure gauge, shown schematically as block 170 in FIG. 2B. Pressure gauge 170 monitors pressure and is designed to release pressure in the event that the pressure within the carbonation chamber rises beyond a defined maximal pressure, for operational safety.

(14) The operational cycle of the unit may controlled by a control module (not shown) linked to the different valves or pumps of the system. The operational cycle may include a number of phases.

(15) As can also be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, embedded within the cooling chamber 110 is a helical cooling element 172 in which a cooling fluid circulates between cooling fluid inlet 174 and cooling fluid outlet 176. The cooling fluid may be a gas or a liquid. The cooling fluid is cooled by a refrigeration unit which may be, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,381 or that subject of PCT publication serial no. WO 2011/030339. The cooling chamber 110 and the carbonation chamber 108 are separated by a heat conducting wall 180, typically a thin metal wall. Thus, through the mediation of the heat conducting wall 180 also the water in the carbonation chamber will be continuously cooled.

(16) The operational cycle of the unit disclosed in FIGS. 1A-2B is represented by a block diagram in FIG. 3. For ease of description, the different phases of the operational cycle in the description below are defined as first phase, second phase, etc. However, the phase designation has no functional significance as all phase occur in succession and each of the phases may in principle be regarded as first.

(17) At a first phase 200, water that was cooled in the cooling chamber 110 is introduced into the carbonation chamber 108. For this, valve 116 is opened and in the event that the entire dispensing device or system in which the unit is included includes the propelling pump (fitted on line 126) it is also activated. The filling continues up to a point where sensing tip 137 of sensor 136 becomes immersed in the liquid, issuing a signal that induces cessation of water flow, namely, shutting off valve 116 and if existing and operating also shutting off said pump.

(18) In the second phase 210, a valve (not shown) controlling release of carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source 130 is opened to permit pressurized carbon dioxide to enter the carbonation chamber through nozzle 132. The pressure is maintained for a time, typically a few seconds, to ensure effective carbonation.

(19) In the third phase, valve 156 is operated thereby establishing a link between head-space 138 and expansion chamber 150 which brings the pressure in the unit down to a dispensing pressure.

(20) At the fourth phase, line 162 is opened to permit dispensing of the carbonated water out of dispensing outlet 164 by the force of the dispensing pressure. This dispensing phase is terminated once the carbonation chamber is entirely emptied, whereupon sensor 140 issues the appropriate signal (or ceases to issue such a signal) to induce closure of the valve controlling flow out of line 162.

(21) In a fifth optional phase, draining outlet 166 drains the accumulated liquid.

(22) The water dispenser typically includes an activation button and the operational cycle proceeds automatically upon such activation. The fifth phase of drainage, may be repeated in every cycle or alternatively once in a few cycles.