US2077850A - Carbonating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

' April 20, 1937.

H. K. PAINTER CARBONATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ili

I IHH I .IIIHL.

I I Nil.

r 8 ca fix N m w! 3/" n i flm w M? April 20, 1937. H. K; PAINTER 2,077,850

' CARBONATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. e, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1937. H. K. PAINTER CARBONATING APPARATUE Filed Jan. 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 E3-5 if I ll! /1/// Harrs IQ Painter Q1}; v TO R %r 3 A540 s.

April 20, 1937. H. K. PAINTER CARBONATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Hum-3: K?

03.11. INVLNTOK MM ATTORNLZfi Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 6,

Glaims.

This invention relates to the art of preparing drinks, and is particularly directed to apparatus for carbonating a liquid.

It is the object of this invention to provide an 5 improved apparatus of this character wherein a liquid level is maintained in a carbonated liquid supply tank and carbonic gas is constantly admitted thereto, in which apparatus a control means is incorporated causing agitation of the water and gas whenever water is introduced into the tank resulting in efficient automatic impregnation of the incoming liquid with gas as withdrawals of carbonated liquid occur. a

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embcdiment of the invention, I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Figures 1 and 3,-

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, front elevational view, disclosing 'means for actuating the valve control means and agitating means,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line B6 of Figure 3, disclosing a safety valve,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, disclosing a control means embodied in this invention,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially-to the line 8-8 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 99 of Figure 3, showing the apparatus in one operative position,

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 99 of Figure 3, showing the apparatus in another operative position,

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line H-ll of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line l2-l2 of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line I3I3 of Figure 3,

55 Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view,

1933, Serial No. 650,449

corresponding substantially to the line l4-l4 of Figure l,

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line |5-l5 of Figure 14, while Figure 16 is a perspective view of a check valve embodied in the invention. The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises a rectangular base frame ill supported at its corners upon legs ii. The frame ill supports a cabinet it having side walls l3 and it, a rear wall it, a front wall l6, and a cover ll provided with a handle i8. The cover ii is hinged, as at it, to the rear wall l5. Disposed about the upper inner periphery of the cabinet it? is a member 28 from which is suspended a rectangular metal ice-box 2i, spaced from the walls of the cabinet 92, and between the walls of the ice-box 2i and the walls of the cabinet i2 is disposed insulating material 22 of cork, or the like, insulating the walls of the cabinet l2 from the ice-box 2i, and the cover i l is similarly insulated therefrom. An adjustable supporting member 23 is mounted on the bottom of the cabinet l2 and supports the cabinet H2 at its bottom midsection. I

An aperture is provided in the bottom of the cabinet 12 for a conduit 24 leading from a source of water supply, connected to an elbow 25 threaded to a conduit 26 which extends in close proximity to the bottom 2?? of the ice-box 2i and to 0 the rear wall 28 of a carbonatcr tank 29 mounted on the bottom 2i, for a purpose hereinafter described. The conduit 26 extends for several lengths, as indicated at 30, between the front wall 3i of the carbonator tank 29 and the front wall 32 of the ice-box 2i, and then extends upwardly adjacent the end Wall 33 of the carbonator tank 29, terminating in an elbow 34 threaded to a reduced conduit 35 Which extends downwardly in a coil, as indicated at 36, between the rear Wall St of the carbonator tank 29 and the rear wall 38 of the ice-box 2i, and thence upwardly and transversely above the cover 39 of the carbonator tank 29, terminating ina valve casing fill. The conduits as arranged provide a lengthy passage for the water prior to its use, and the water is cooled to a low temperature by covering the conduit coil 36 with cracked ice or the like.

The valve casing 40 (see Figure 4) is supported by a bracket 4| mounted on the cover 39 and comprises a reduced port 42 (see Figure 14) communicating at one end with the conduit 35 and at the opposite end with a valve chamber 43, which communicates with a chamber 44 through a reduced port 45, provided by a valve seat 48 engageable with a valve 41 threaded to the inner end of a reciprocating valve stem 48 extending through a gland nut 49 threaded in the valve 5 casing 48. 'Disposed about the valve stem 48 is a packing member 58 secured by a nut 5| to the gland nut 49 and valve stem 48. A conduit 52 has one end threaded to the valve casing, 48 and communicates with the chamber 44, and the opposite end thereof is threaded into one end of a sleeve 58 having a reduced port 54. The other end of the sleeve 58 has, a reduced portion 55 frictionally embraced by a soft rubber valve 58 having a slotted collapsible opening 58a, which permits fluid to pass therethrough from the conduit 52, but automatically prevents back-flow of fiuid into the conduit 52'and its connected conduit members.

A coupling 51 is screw-threaded to the sleeve 53 and embraces the one way valve 56 in spaced relation, forming a chamber 58 thereabout, and the coupling 51 is'provided with a reduced port 58 which communicates with a conduit 88 threaded into the other end of the coupling 51, and the conduit 88 in turn communicates with the upper portion of an agitator paddle housing 8i mounted on the cover 39 of the carbonator tank 29 and communicating with the interior of the carbonator tank 29, thereby providing conduit means 30 traversing considerable distance with respect to the area of the ice-box 2I to convey water from the source of supply to the carbonator tank 29.

A carbonic gas conduit 82 (see Figure 7) has one end connected to the source of carbonic gas supply, not shown, and the other end 88 terminating in the carbonator tank 29 adjacent the bottom thereof beneath the agitator paddle housing 8|. A pressure valve (not shown) for regulating the pressure from the carbonic gas supply is set to deliver a constant fiow of gas at a predetermined pressure; and a gas check-valve 84 is inserted in the gas conduit 82 to prevent back-flow of gas from the carbonator tank 29 and permit entrance of the gas into the carbon ator tank 29.

Integral with the agitator paddle housing 8| is a flange 85 enclosing a boss 88, and the flange 85 is closed by a cover plate 81, thus providing a gear box 88 adapted. to be filled with oil or grease. Journaled in the boss 88 is a shaft 88 carrying at one end an agitator paddle 18 secured thereto by a pin II. The agitator paddle I8 is adapted to rotate within the housing 8| and is provided with vanes 12 curved at their free ends, as at I8. Fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 89, bya pin I4, is a worm-gear I5 adapted to mesh with a worm-wheel I8 secured to the midsection of a shaft 11 which extends through opposite sides of the flange 85. when rotative movement is imparted to the shaft 89, the agitator paddle 18 is rotated, and the curved vanes I2 agitate the water and carbonic gas in the carbonator tank 29, causing the carbonic gas to permeate the water, producing a carbonated water suitable for mixture with fiav orlng syrups or for use unadulterated.

Water traversing the water conduit means herein described is co'oled to a low temperature before entering the carbonator tank 29 and prior to coming into contact with the carbonic gas. I find that with my method of preparing carbonated water by cooling the water prior to mixing with the carbonic gas and then agitating the water and gas in a cold state, that a larger amount of gas can be absorbed by the cold water than if the water were mixed at normal temperature with the gas; furthermore, the gas is more completely absorbed by the cold water, thereby retaining the characteristics of carbonic gas in the water for a longer period of time, than is obtained in the conventional method of carbonating water.

One end of the shaft I1 is adjustably secured within one end of a sleeve-I9 (see Figure 14) by means of a screw 88, and the sleeve 18 is rotatably mounted within a cup-shaped member 8|, of a fly-wheel construction 82. Secured to the flanged extremity of the cup-shaped member 8|, by means of screws 88, is a member 84, having a projecting boss inwardly threaded as at 88, adapted to receive the threaded end 81 of the sleeve I8, and provided with a pin 88 extending transversely therefrom into the cup portion of the member 8|. The pin 88 is adapted to engage a stud 89 secured to the member 84.

Adjacent the threaded portion 88in the boss 85 is secured an outer ball race 98, and an inner ball race 9I is secured to the end of "the valve stem 48 by a nut 92. Interposed between the races 98 and 9| are balls 98 providing a ball bearing arrangement which permit the fly-wheel 82 to rotate freely about the sleeve I8 and the valve stem 48, and prevent linear movement of the fly-wheel 82 along the valve stem 48. The outer end of the boss 85 is closed by a plate 94 detachably secured to the boss 85 by screws 95.

When the shaft 11 is rotated to the left, as viewed in Figure 14, the sleeve I9 also rotates to the left, but the fly-wheel 82 does not rotate, due to its inertia. However, the threaded movement of the sleeve I9 in the fly-wheel 82 causes linear movement of the fiy-wheel 82 to the left, which in turn moves the valve stem 48 to the left and opens the valve 41, permitting additional water to enter the carbonator tank 29. The threading movement of the sleeve I9 to the left is limited by the pin 88 abutting the opposite side ofthe stud 88, as shown in broken lines in Figure 15, at which time the fiy-wheel' 82 is positively engaged and rotates to the left with the sleeve I9. When the shaft II ceases to rotate the fiy-wheel 82 continues to rotate, due to its inertia, and threads the fiy-wheel 82 on to the sleeve I8, causing linear movement of the fly-wheel 82 to the right, which movement is limited by the pin 88 abutting the stud 88, as shown in solid lines in Figure 15. This latter threaded advancement to the right, as viewed in Figure 14, is suflicient to pull the valve stem 48 to the right and close the valve 41, preventing water from flowing to the carbonator tank 28.

A motor 98 is mounted on a platform 81 and the shaft 88 of the motor 98 is connected to the end of the shaft 11. When the motor 88 is operating, it imparts rotative movement to the shaft 11 which in turn actuates the agitator paddle I8 and the valve stem 48, as hereinbefore described. 1

An electrical circuit I88, not completely shown, includes a mercury switch IN, or other suitable switch means, enclosed in a sealed compartment I82 fixed to the end wall 28 of the carbonator tank 28. The switch IN is provided with a lever arm I88 pivotally mounted, at about its mldsection, on the end wall 28, and the lever arm I88 has at one end fingers I84, securing a sealed glass' tube I85 carrying at one end electrodes I88. In the tube I85 is a quantity of mercury which makes or breaks the circuit through the electrodes I88, depending upon the inclination of the tube I and the resultant location of the mer cury, either in or out of contact with the electrodes I06. The opposite end of the lever arm I03 is provided with an elongated slot I01 in '5 which is inserted one end I08 of a float rod I09 pivotally secured, as at IIO. This arm extends through a slot I I I in the wall 28 of the carbonator tank 29 and carries at its other end a float II2 adapted to be moved in a vertical arcuate line by the carbonated water in the carbonator tank 29. The cover 39 of the carbonator tank, 29 has an upwardly bulged portion I I3 to accommodate the float H2. The bulged portion H3 is provided with an inwardly threaded boss I I4 for the re ception of a safety valve I I5. This valve includes a valve casing II6, a valve .seat In, a valve H8, outlets H9, and an adjustable pressure spring I20, permitting the valve II8 to be unseated at a predetermined gas pressure within the carbonator tank 29.

The level of the water in the carbonator tank 29 controls the movement of the float I I2. When the carbonated water supply is depleted to a predetermined level, the float rod I09 automatically 5 actuates the switch lever arm I03 which is moved upwardly, as shown in broken lines in Figure 8, and the mercury tube I05 is inclined to contact position with the electrodes I06 to close the circuit, causing the motor 96 tooperate and rotate the agitator paddle I0 and to open the valve 41 to permit additional water to enter the carbonator tank 29 and simultaneously agitate the incoming water with the incoming carbonic gas to produce carbonated water at a predetermined pressure. When the elevation of the carbonated water in the carbonator tank 29 has increased to a predetermined height, the float H2 and rod I09 automatically move the mercury tube I03 to the oppositely inclined position, to break the circuit and cause the motor 96 to cease its operations, and the agitator paddle I0 its rotation, and to close the valve 41, cutting off additional flow of water into the carbonator tank 29.

A tubular member i2l (see Figures 9 and 10) has one end I22 threaded into the front wall 86 of the carbonator tank 29 and is secured in sealing relation therewith by a gasket and nut connection, as indicated at I23, and the other end I24 of the tubular member I2I is provided with an annular flange 525 which abuts the inner surface of the front wall 32 of the ice-box 2i, and is secured thereto by a nut i271 threaded onto the end 824 of the tubular member i726.

, The tubular member has an outwardly tapered inner surface adapted to frictionally embrace a corresponding tapered inner end I28 of a faucet M9. The tapered end I28 is partially closed by an integral partition having a plurality of annularly arranged apertures I30 which surround a central aperture I3I. The apertures E30 communicate with an enlarged chamber 532 of the faucet I29 which communicates with 9. depending discharge nozzle I33. The forward end portion of the faucet I29 is provided with a chamber [134 closed at its outer end by a detachable cap 035 threaded into the faucet I29. The chamber M4 is closed at its inner end by a partition wall use having an aperture I31, for a purpose hereinafter described. Extending through the chamber 834 is'afpin I38 journaled in diametrically disposed lugs I39. The pin I38 is rigidly affixed, by means of a screw I40, to the bifurcated arms I4I of a faucet handle I42, and secured to the pin l38, within the chamber I34, by a screw I43, is a cam 7 I44, adapted to engage, when the faucethandle I42 is manipulated, a disk I45 threaded to one end of a valve rod I46 slidably mounted in the apertures I31 and I3I. r

The opposite end of the valve rod I46 is slidably mounted in a partition wall I41 disposed short of the end I48 of the tubular member I2I. The valve rod I46 extends into the carbonator tank 29 and is adapted to engage a valve 30I provided with a valve disk I49 mounted on a plunger 300 having a stud I50 slidable within a recess I5I of a valve cap I52 threaded to the extreme end I48 of the tubular member I2I. The valve 30I is yieldably mounted by means of a spring I53 interposed between the valve cap I52 and the plunger 300. The valve cap I52 is provided with annularly arranged ports I54, and the partition wall i4! is provided with ports I55 to establish communication between the interior of the carbonator tank 29 and the interior I56 of the tubular member I28. The flow of carbonated water from the carbonator tank 29 is controlled by the faucet handle M2, which when rotated downwardly moves the valve rod 6 inwardly to open the ports 654 and permit the flow of carbonated water through the ports I55 and I30 and thence from the discharge nozzle I33.

The tubular member i2! has a flat surface, as at 860, to support a cylinder ii, of predetermined capacity, having a tapered port l62, adapted to serve as a valve seat alined with an aperture l63 irr the fiat surface 560. Secured within the alined apertures 862 and i163 is a valve cage 364, its lower end partially closed by a spider member i65 adapted to support a spring 200 which yieldably supports a ball valve M51 in sealing engagement with the valve seat 962.

Reciprocally mounted within the cylinder 161i is a piston 868 having a port I69 extending therethrough, one end of which is partially closed by a spider member (I10, and the other end of which is provided with a valve seat iii adapted to be engaged by a ball valve i712 yieldably supported by a spring Hi3 interposed between the ball valve H2 and the spider member H9. The ends of the piston 568 are provided with packing members H4 and H5, and washers H6 and ill. The packing member HM and washer 516 have openings that are alined with the port 59, and are secured to one face of the piston 968 between a shouldered portion of a piston rod H9 which has one end threaded into the piston M9. we piston rod ilii extends through a stuifing box H9 carried by a head I189 secured to the forward end of the cylinder i6l. The outer end of the piston rod H8 is pivotally connected, as at I8I, to a link i82 pivotally secured to the faucet handle 2, as at H83. The packing M5 and washer iii are also provided with openings that are alined with the port 669. These elements are secured to the opposite face or" the piston it? by a screw i199 threaded thereinto.

The cylinder list is closed at its rear end by a head l85 having an outwardly and upwardly extending projection 596 provided with an angular bore 881? communicating with the cylinder MI. The lower end of the bore I 8i, is provided with a valve seat E89 for t ball valve i90 yieldably held in position by a spring i9I removably secured by a spider member I92 afflxed at the inner end of the bore I91. The outer end of the borei8! is outwardly and upwardly tapered to frictionally accommodate a correspondingly tapered flexible member l93 secured to a nipple 594 abutting against the bottom-of a syrup container I95 and secured thereto by "acollar I96. The

syrup container I95 is supported in the bore I01,

and is easily removed from the cabinet I 2 by lifting it upwardly from the bore I81. Additional syrup may be added to the container I95 by re- 5 moving a detachable plug I91.

In operation, assuming that the apparatus is in the position as shown in Figure 9, and the cylinder I5I has not been supplied with flavoring syrup from the syrup container I 95, the faucet l0 handle I42 is rotated forwardly, which movement unseats the valve I90 and causes the elements associated therewith to assume the position as shown in Figure 10, creating a partial vacuum in the cylinder IGI, causing syrup to flow from the container I95 into the rear part of the cylinder I5I. The faucet handle I42 is then rotated to its original and normal position, as indicated in Figure 9, which movement seats the valve I90 and prevents further discharge of syrup from the container I95, and unseats the valve I12, permitting the charge of syrup in the rear of the cylinder I5I to flow through the port I59 and the piston I50 to the front end of the cylinder I6I, where the syrup is held by the valve I61. The

faucet handle I42 is again rotated downwardly and the piston I58 moved forwardly, which movement seats the valve I12 to prevent further flow of syrup therepast, but unseats the valve I61, forcing the'charge of syrup in the front end of the cylinder I50 into the mixing chamber I55. Each rearward movement of the faucet handle I42 thereafter forces a new charge of syrup from the container I95, into the forward portion of the cylinder I5I, so that only one downward movement is necessary to force the new charge of syrup into the mixing chamber I56. During the forward movement of the faucet handle I42, the carbonator valve IN is unseated by the cam I44 and valve rod I46, to permit the'carbonated 40 water to pass through the small apertures I55 under pressure exerted by the carbonic gas contained in the carbonated water and the gas above the water in the tank 29, into the mixing chamber I55, whereby the charge of syrup is intimately mixed under pressure of the gas with the carbonated water and forced through the apertures I20, and thence forced through the discharge nomle I22 in the form of a beverage already prepared for consumption.

The dispensing apparatus thus described requires but a forward and rearward movement of the faucet handle I42 to dispense a carbonated flavored beverage. The charges of syrup from the cylinder I6I can be altered by inserting cylinders of various capacities.

' It is apparent that one or more dispensing and mixing units can be used in connection with the same cabinet, and carbonating tank. I have shown in this embodiment of my invention three dispensing and mixing units 200, 20I and 202 in addition to the dispensing and mixing unit hereinbefore described, and the units 200, 2III, and 202 are constructed identically and operate identically with the unit heretofore described. 05' I have also made provision for dispensing unadulterated carbonated water directly from the carbonator tank 20. The mechanism employed in that connection comprises a dispensing unit 202 having a faucet 204 disposed between the 70 units 200 and 20I and threaded to the front wall of the cabinet I2, and is providedwith a suitable valve 220 operated in the usual manner by a'faucet handle 205. The faucet 204 has a reduced outlet 206 in a depending nozzle 201 75 which communicates with an enlarged channel 200, terminating in a pipe 205 having one end threaded to the end of the faucet 204 and the other end terminating within the carbonator tank 29 in direct communication with the carbonated water therein. The inner end of the faucet 204 is secured to the inner surface of the front wall of the ice-box 2I by a gasket and nut arrangement as indicated at 2I0. The inner end of the pipe 208 is secured to the carbonator tank 29 by a gasket and nut arrangement as shown at 2i I.

When the faucet handle 205 is moved forwardly, the carbonated water is dispensed with considerable force through the reduced outlet 205, the force of the ejection being sufiicient to disintegrate ice-cream, and to completely mix flavored syrups with the carbonated water. A tray 2i 2 is secured to the frame I0, to support glasses, or the like, during the dispensing operations.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein disclosed accomplishes at least the principal object of the invention, that it has uses and advantages other than those herein particularly referred to, and that various changes and'modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and accordingly the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative onlyand the invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising: a container communicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means for mixing said liquid and gas to impregnate said liquid with said gas; valve means for controlling the flow of said liquid; and a valve actuating element driven by said mixing means and having an inertia member connected with said valve means, movable with said actuating element when the latter is moving and shiftable relative to said actuating element when the latter comes to rest to operate said valve means.

2. A device of the character described, comprising: a container communicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means disposed in said container for agitating said liquid and gas, mixing said gas and liquid, impregnating said liquid with said gas; and valve means for controlling the flow of said liquid to said container; actuating means for operating said valve and agitating means; said valve means and said agitating means being interconnected with said actuating means, whereby said valve is opened when said agitator means is operated.

3. A device of the character described, comprising: a container communicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means for mixing said liquid and gas, impregnating said liquid with said gas; valve means for controlling the flow of said liquid; and means for actuating the valve and driving the mixing means, including a single direction rotary element and a translatable element carrying the valve actuated by the 'rotary element for effecting both opening and closing movements of said valve means.

4. A device of the character described, comprising: a container communicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means for mixing said liquid and gas, impregnating said liquid with said gas: valve means reciprocably operable to control the flow of said liquid; and means for actuating the valve and driving the mixing means including a rotary element engaging said reciprocal valve means, said rotary element movable in one direction to effect reciprocatory movement of said valve means.

5. An apparatus of the class described, com= raising, a container communicable with a -sulpply of water under pressure and a carbonic gas supply under pressure, an agitator for mixing the water and. gas in said container, 9. power means for driving said agitator, a control de-

Images