Abstract:
A safety unit for a home carbonation machine that includes a valve to release gas from a sealed state at a first pressure and a backup element set to rupture at a second higher pressure when the valve malfunctions. The valve also includes a backup element housing which moves to vent the gas via an outlet during carbonation and which has a conduit to direct the gas to the backup element.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing carbonated water includes a gas cylinder configured to store carbon dioxide gas, a cold water storage unit configured to store cold water, a producing tank defining a closed space where the carbonated water is produced, a water supply passage configured to connect the cold water storage unit to the producing tank, the water supply passage including a water supply valve that controls supply of the cold water, a gas supply passage connecting the gas cylinder to the producing tank, the gas supply passage including a gas valve that controls supply of the carbon dioxide, a first relief valve provided along the gas supply passage, the first relief valve configured to control the discharge of the carbon dioxide gas, a dispensing passage connecting the producing tank to a dispensing member, and the dispensing member configured to dispense the carbonated water from a front surface of a refrigerator.
Abstract:
A home carbonation system includes a mechanical lock to lock a bottle within the carbonation system during carbonation. The system also includes a gradual releaser to controllably release pressure after the carbonation and to delay the unlocking of the bottle from the mechanical lock after the carbonation has ended.
Abstract:
A liquid product is dispensed via a membrane contactor. The contactor employs a plurality of gas-permeable hollow fibers. The contactor has a gas port communicating with the interior of the fibers and input and output ports for liquid communicating with space within the contactor surrounding the fibers. A gas comprising carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide is dissolved in the liquid in the contactor. The gas at a controlled pressure is supplied to the gas port. The liquid is supplied at a higher pressure than the gas to the input port for liquid from a supply of such liquid via a first valve having a first valve inlet port communicating with the supply of liquid and a first valve outlet port communicating with the inlet port for liquid. Liquid with the gas dissolved therein is dispensed from the outlet port for liquid via a dispense tap to ambient. The dispensing liquid step includes a start dispense step in which dispensing commences and a stop dispense step in which dispensing is stopped. The first valve is opened with the dispensing tap in the start dispense step, and is closed in the stop dispense step. Pressure build-up is relieved in liquid in communication with the space within the contactor surrounding the fibers after closure of the first valve and while maintaining the first valve closed. The balance between gas pressure and liquid pressure during the systems' standby periods protects the membranes from flooding.
Abstract:
A safety unit for a home carbonation machine that includes a valve to release gas from a sealed state at a first pressure and a backup element set to rupture at a second higher pressure when the valve malfunctions. The valve also includes a backup element housing which moves to vent the gas via an outlet during carbonation and which has a conduit to direct the gas to the backup element.
Abstract:
A carbonating device for carbonating an opened vessel including an inlet valve for receiving pressurized gas, an exit valve for expelling gas into a vessel to be carbonated, a trigger for opening the inlet valve, a trigger pressure regulator arranged to close the inlet valve, a discharge assembly, and a cap assembly, the discharge assembly coupled to and de-coupled from the cap and including a port for discharging gas to the cap, the discharge port being opened and closed by a valve and a pressure regulator arranged to automatically close the discharge valve in response to a pressure level.
Abstract:
A home use carbonation machine includes a pronged clamp to fit a non-upright bottle to a flexible seal, thereby facilitating a closed carbonation environment in the bottle and a normally open safety valve to vent the bottle when the carbonation machine is not actively carbonating. A home use carbonation machine includes a carbonation assembly to carbonate liquid with pressurized gas, a pronged clamp and a centering ring with centering ribs to guide a non-upright bottle into the pronged clamp during insertion and to constrict prongs of the clamp when a user moves the non-upright bottle towards an upright position for operation.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing carbonated water through a typical kitchen faucet. The faucet-integrated carbonation system can include a carbonated water reservoir coupled to a residential or commercial cold water supply line as well as a CO2 tank, all of which can be mounted under a kitchen countertop or the like. The water held in the reservoir can be carbonated using the CO2 when a user activates a CO2 activation mechanism. The system can further include a carbonated water on/off valve for dispensing carbonated water from the carbonated water reservoir via a waterway with an outlet disposed at the end of the faucet.
Abstract:
A home use carbonation machine includes a carbonation assembly to carbonate liquid with pressurized gas, an electrical controller to operate the carbonation assembly and at least one safeguard to terminate the supply of pressurized gas in the event of an electrical outage. The carbonation assembly includes a pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to the carbonation machine
Abstract:
A home use carbonation machine includes a pronged clamp to fit a non-upright bottle to a flexible seal, thereby facilitating a closed carbonation environment in the bottle and a normally open safety valve to vent the bottle when the carbonation machine is not actively carbonating. A home use carbonation machine includes a carbonation assembly to carbonate liquid with pressurized gas, a pronged clamp and a centering ring with centering ribs to guide a non-upright bottle into the pronged clamp during insertion and to constrict prongs of the clamp when a user moves the non-upright bottle towards an upright position for operation.