1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to beverage enhancers, and more specifically to a carbonation device for carbonating beverages, particularly home-brew beer, in a relatively short amount of time.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the basic necessities to any outdoor activity is potable liquid. It is basic to survival and allows the outdoorsman, e.g. backpackers, hunters, hikers and campers, to keep the body hydrated during the physical activity. If the outdoorsman desires carbonated beverages, the outdoorsman is relegated to toting around bottles or cans of pre-carbonated beverages that can add considerable weight and bulk to his or her pack. A majority of the weight and volume is attributed to the water component in the beverages.
A solution for the drawbacks of the above would be to carry a beverage concentrate to which a user can add purified water for a refreshing drink. However, this solution still lacks the effervescent sensation provided by carbonation that many people enjoy.
Another solution involves the use of a complicated cap system for a bottle or container including a plurality of mechanical parts and piping for pressurizing and distributing carbonating gas into the liquid. However, this type of system is costly and difficult to clean, mainly due to the complexity and number of parts for the device.
A further solution involves the use of a carbonation tablet that can be dropped into a liquid container to produce the effervescence. This is a quick and easy way to carbonate the liquid, but the resultant product oftentimes includes an aftertaste that can overpower the taste of the potable liquid. Moreover, the chemical reaction can include some unpalatable solid byproducts. Thus, it would be a benefit in the art to provide an efficient and economical device for carbonating potable liquids with minimal adverse effects on the palate.
Thus, a carbonation device addressing the aforementioned problems is desired.
The carbonation device includes a cap system selectively mounted to the mouth of a liquid container. The cap system includes a cap, a syringe piston reciprocable within the cap, an actuating mechanism for reciprocating the syringe piston, and a reaction vessel selectively attached to the bottom of the cap. The syringe piston includes a storage area to be filled with water by repeated activation of the actuating mechanism. The water from the charged syringe piston discharges into the reaction vessel that has been filled with a preselected amount of reactants to initiate the carbonation reaction. In an alternative embodiment, the carbonation device includes a rotatable control ring to selectively puncture a CO2 cartridge inside the reaction vessel or introduce reactant liquid, such as water, into the reaction vessel to initiate carbonation reaction. In both embodiments, the CO2 flows from the reaction vessel into the container to carbonate the beverage contained therein.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Unless otherwise indicated, similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
The carbonation device is a device for producing carbonated beverages on demand in an efficient manner. As shown in
The reaction chamber or vessel 30 can be a substantially hollow body having a dome-shaped closed end and an opposite open end. The outer surface of the reaction vessel 30 can also include grip-enhancing protrusions to assist in handling and mounting. Various types of grip enhancing features can also be included. Moreover, the reaction vessel 30 is desirably made from plastic or other durable materials that can withstand the pressures experienced by the reaction vessel 30 in a safe manner. Similar materials are applicable to the container 12.
In order to produce the CO2 for carbonation, the reaction vessel 12 is filled with a predetermined amount of carbonating material, such as sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, either in powder or tablet form. By mixing the sodium bicarbonate and citric acid with a reactant liquid, such as water, carbonating gas, such as CO2, can be formed therein and distributed. The reactant liquid, such as water, is supplied by a syringe piston 40, which serves as both a means of delivering reactant liquid, such as water, to the reaction vessel 30 and as a valve for delivering the CO2 to the container 12. In general, the supplied reactant liquid, such as water, reacts with the carbonating material pressurizing the reaction vessel 30. Once pressure has been built to a desired level, the syringe piston 40 is raised from the top of the reaction vessel 30 to open a passage for the gas to escape into the container 12.
As shown in
The syringe piston 40 also includes additional seals to provide a pressure-tight seal. A radially extending flange 44 at the top of the syringe piston 40 includes an annular groove or channel defined therein for a second, relatively large diameter O-ring 17. A third, smaller O-ring 18 is desirably disposed below the flange 44 within the annular groove or channel 46 such that when the reaction chamber or vessel 30 is threaded to the bottom of the cap 20, and the syringe piston 40 is plunged downward, the third O-ring 18 seals against the open end of the reaction vessel 30 and closes the reaction vessel 30 of from the beverage container, thereby stopping the flow of CO2 gas into the beverage. Thus, the third O-ring 18 can also be referred to as a valve ring. Alternative arrangements can be possible with the third O-ring 18, depending upon the geometry and location of the reaction vessel CO2 exhaust ports. In a desired embodiment, the entire open end of the reaction cup becomes the required sealing surface to close the flow of CO2 gas from entering the beverage. However, other CO2 exhaust path mechanisms, such as a centrally disposed straw, can require corresponding resizing and repositioning of the third O-ring 18.
During operation of the syringe piston 40, the syringe piston 40 can tend to rotate from the frictional contact with the O-rings 17 and 18. If left unchecked, this action tends to place rotational strain on the connection between the syringe piston 40 and the actuating mechanism, which can lead to structural failure or deformation. As shown in
The bottom of the syringe piston 40 also includes a downwardly extending post or bushing 48 having a through bore or port 49. The port 49 permits transfer of fluid or gas between the reaction vessel 30 and the bowl 41.
As shown in
The actuating mechanism 60 can also include a locking assembly for keeping the lever in the inoperative or down position, especially for transport. Another main aspect for the locked position is that the locked position seals the syringe piston 40 against the top of the reaction vessel 30 whenever needed, i.e., the locked position closes the valve. The locking assembly includes a slidable locking bar, rod or beam 66 received in correspondingly spaced mounting slots 67 formed in the recess walls of the recess 26. The locking bar 66 can be an elongate beam having a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section. A central rib on the bottom of the lever 62 includes a locking slot 68 corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the locking bar 66 to form a dovetail join when the locking bar 66 is in the locked position. To release the lock, the user slides the locking bar 66 until an unobstructed zone 69 mates with the locking slot 68, where the dovetail join cannot form. In this position, the lever 62 is free to move. Other locking mechanisms, such as latches or spring locks, can also be used.
During operation of the carbonation device 10, the interior pressure can at times require release. In that regard, the carbonation device 10 includes a pressure relief valve 70 disposed in the recess 26 on top of the cap 20 adjacent the actuating mechanism 60. The pressure relief valve 70 includes an elastomeric ball 76 covering a relief hole or bore 29. The ball 76 is held in place by the combined action of the biasing means, such as a spring 74 and a nut 72 threaded into the recess 26. The spring 74 holds the ball 76 against the bore 29 and is desirably configured to withstand a certain amount of pressure prior to having the ball 76 forcibly moved away from the bore 29 when the internal pressure overcomes the strength of the spring 74. Various springs, such as a clip spring or an elastomeric sleeve, are viable alternatives for the relief valve 70.
The following describes how to use the carbonation device 10. When a user desires to carbonate a beverage, the cap 20 is removed from the container 12 to remove the reaction vessel 30. The container 12 is filled with some reactant liquid, such as water, and the cap 20 replaced. The container 12 is turned upside down so that the reactant liquid, such as water, pools toward the cap 20. The lever 62 is then unlocked and pivoted up and down repeatedly to reciprocate the syringe piston 40. The reciprocation of the syringe piston 40 creates a vacuum that pulls the reactant liquid, such as water, into the cup 41 through the port 49. The cup or bowl 41 is completely filled, such as when substantially no more air bubbles escape through the port 49.
Once the cup or bowl 41 filled with the reactant liquid, such as water, the reaction vessel 30 is filled with a predetermined amount of carbonating reactants and mounted to the cap 20. The container 12 is then filled with the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage, to be carbonated, and the cap 20 is reattached. In the upright position, the lever 62 is cycled several times to dispense the reactant liquid, such as water, through the port 49. The reactant liquid, such as water, contacts the effervescent reactants within the reaction vessel 30 and triggers the start of the chemical reaction. After a short period of time, the lever 62 is placed in the up position to open the top of the reaction vessel 30, which permits flow of the carbonating gas from the reaction vessel 30 into the beverage. It is noted that during this operation, the configuration of the syringe piston 40 and the limited travel facilitated by the piston shaft 42 allows for only a fraction of the reactant liquid, such as water, to be dispensed into the reaction vessel 30 at a time. While it is possible to empty the full contents of the syringe piston 40 at one time with corresponding modifications of, inter alia, the syringe piston 40 and the reaction vessel 30, such a configuration can cause a difficult to control reaction with the carbonating reactants, i.e., the reaction and pressure buildup can be too rapid. To help prevent this type of occurrence, the carbonation production is staggered by using discreet amounts of reactant liquid, such as water, per cycle until typically all the reactant liquid, such as water, has been consumed. Thus, carbonation occurs over a longer period of time for a more even and thereby efficient consumption and absorption of the gas into the beverage.
As naturally occurs, the gas production reaches equilibrium where carbonation is at a minimum. At this point, the user operates the lever 62 into the down position, closing the reaction vessel 30. The user then locks the lever 62 and shakes the carbonation device 10 vigorously for a short time. This agitation serves two purposes. The first purpose results in increased production of carbonating gas by increasing the reaction between the reactants. The second purpose results in forcing the remaining gas in the container 12 to be absorbed into the beverage due to the beverage moving inside the container 12. Both result in optimizing carbonation of the beverage.
When the newly generated CO2 reaches a desired pressure level, the lever 62 can be raised to the up position to thereby open the top of the reaction vessel 30 and allow the gas to escape into the beverage. The above is repeated until the beverage has been carbonated to the user's satisfaction.
Thus, it can be seen that the carbonation device 10 is a compact, efficient apparatus for producing carbonated beverages on demand. The syringe piston 40 performs the functions necessary for producing and delivering the carbonating gas in an efficient and relatively simple manner. The construction of the carbonation device 10 also permits easy assembly and disassembly for storage, travel and cleaning.
The above exemplary embodiment utilizes a relatively stiff syringe piston 40. However, a more flexible one can be used to obtain similar results. As shown in
Instead of a relatively stiff syringe piston, the carbonation device 100 includes a flexible diaphragm syringe piston 140. The diaphragm syringe piston 140 includes a bowl or cup 141 and a central piston rod or shaft 142 attached to an actuating rod or shaft 172 via threads or locking barbs. An O-ring 113 surrounds the actuating shaft 172 to seal reciprocation within the central bore 127 on the cap 120. The bottom of the diaphragm syringe piston 140 includes a downwardly extending post or bushing 148 having a throughbore or port 149. The port 149 permits transfer of fluid or gas between the reaction vessel 130 and the bowl 141. Moreover, a central flange 143 is formed at the bottom of the diaphragm syringe piston 140. The central flange 143 includes a recess for receiving one end of a distribution tube or straw 102. The other end of the distribution tube 102 opens into the interior of the container 112. Also, the carbonation device 100 can include a lancing mechanism to facilitate use of a CO2 cartridge.
In most respects, the carbonation device 100 operates substantially the same as the carbonation device 10. However, reciprocation of the actuating shaft 172 flexes the diaphragm syringe piston 140, creating a vacuum and a pumping action for intake and discharge of fluid or gas. When a carbonating gas is produced and the pressure builds, the pressure inside the reaction vessel 130 lifts the central flange 143, permitting CO2 to escape through the distribution tube 102 into the beverage contained in the container 112.
Another embodiment of the carbonation device is shown in
Turning to
The first body portion 226 includes a partition 226a separating the interior of the first body portion 222 into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A pair of diametrically disposed upper ports, vents or holes 228 are formed on the upper chamber portion of the first body portion 226. These upper vents 228 permit flow of fluid or gas into the upper chamber. Below each upper vent 228 is a corresponding lower port, vent or hole 229 that permits flow of fluid or gas through the lower chamber.
The control ring 240 is rotatably mounted to the first body portion 226 of the cap 220. The control ring 240 can be a cylindrical body having a smaller diameter open top 254. To facilitate secure operative engagement therebetween, the control ring 240 includes discontinuous interior flanges or tabs 242 projecting radially inwardly from near the bottom of the interior of the control ring 240. These tabs 242 include locking notches or indentions that are disposed in the internal annular groove or channel 244 at predefined positions around the inner circumference of the control ring 240. Each notch indention corresponds to a selected control position for operation of the carbonation device 200. The first body portion 226 includes at least two rotation tabs 230 extending radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the first body portion 226. Each rotation tab 230 includes a locking protuberance 230a engageable with the above-mentioned locking indentions in the control ring 240 when assembled. The interaction between the locking protuberances 230a and the locking indentions locks the relative positions of the control ring 240 about the cap 220 for select operations of the carbonation device 200.
The interior of the control ring 240 also includes a pair of diametrically opposed control grooves or vents 246 that align and communicate with the upper vents 228 and the lower vents 229 when the control ring 240 is rotated to a select position. As shown in
As shown in
To regulate pressure and distribution of fluid or gas, the carbonation device 200 can include several pressure relief valves. The first pressure relief valve is formed at the center of the partition 226a. A first relief valve housing 280 extends through the center of the partition 226a. The upper half of the first relief valve housing 280 includes an opening 282 through which gas can escape into the upper chamber. The upper half houses a ball 304 biased against the opening 282 by a spring 302. The lower half of the valve housing 280 includes a hollow lance or spear 300 with a point for piercing the nipple of a CO2 cartridge 274.
The lance 300 is shaped like a flanged bushing with the pointed end disposed towards the interior of the reaction vessel 260 or the container 212. The flanged portion of the lance 300 abuts against a stepped portion of first relief valve housing 280 on one side. A retention O-ring 306 helps to retain the lance 300 within the first relief housing 280, as well as sealing the interior for optimum flow of medium. As previously mentioned, the lance 300 is hollow and includes a bore or passage 301 permitting the flow of medium between the upper and lower chambers of the cap 220. Pressure is relieved either by forceful uncovering of the opening 282 by the button 239 pressing down on the ball 304, or by lessening of the interior pressure over time. The relief over time releases some of the compression on the spring 302 via the lance 300, which consequently permits the ball 304 to lower and uncover the hole or port 282.
A second pressure relief valve housing 284 is disposed adjacent the first relief valve housing 280. The second pressure relief valve housing 284 encloses balls or obstructions 312, 316 disposed on opposite sides of a spring 314. The spring 314 and the balls 312, 316 are retained within the second relief valve housing 284 by a retention sealing ring 310. As an alternative, a third pressure relief valve can be disposed at the bottom of the reaction vessel 260 to selectively relieve pressure therein. The third pressure relief valve can be of similar construction to the first relief valve.
As mentioned, the universal carbonation device 200 utilizes carbonating gas either from reactants or from a CO2 cartridge 274. Both are facilitated through the reaction vessel 260. As shown in
When the cartridge 274 is to be used, the cartridge 274 can normally be stored upside down so that the nipple of the cartridge 274 is mounted inside recess 264. When using reactants, a distribution tube 272 is installed inside the reaction chamber 260 with one end attached to the lower portion of the first relief valve housing 280 and the other end attached to the mounting recess 264.
The following describes how to use the universal carbonation device 200 using either carbonating source. In the first example, using the cartridge 274, the user rotates the control ring 240 into the “locked” position to facilitate insertion of the cartridge 272. The cap 220 is threaded onto the reaction vessel 260 forcing the nipple of the cartridge 274 to move towards the lance 300 and be pierced thereby. Then the cap 220 is attached to the container 212. The CO2 gas exits the cartridge and travels through the lance 300 and the first pressure relief valve housing 280. Then the gas enters the upper chamber under the piston 238. The pressure within this region increases until the pressure generates enough force to lift the piston 238 against the opposing force of the spring 223 above. When the piston 238 lifts, this action releases the ball 304, allowing the ball 304 to seal against the port 282. At this point, pressure is permitted to build.
To initiate carbonation of the beverage in the container 212, the user rotates the control ring 240 into the “CO2” position aligning the vent control grooves 246 with the upper and lower vents 228 and 229. The gas trapped in the upper chamber flows through the upper vents 228 into the lower vents 229 towards the lower chamber. From there, the gas exits through the exhaust port 266 to carbonate the beverage.
As the gas exits the upper chamber, pressure is reduced therein. Since the annular spring 223 normally biases the piston 238 towards the first relief valve housing 280, the button 239 eventually presses down on the ball 304 to unseal the port 282. This permits residual pressure inside the cartridge 274 to transfer the remaining gas inside the cartridge 274. The user can shake the carbonation device 200 to force carbonate the beverage for substantially the dual purposes discussed above. When the desired carbonation has been reached, the beverage is ready to be enjoyed.
When using reactants, the user initially places the cap 220 upside down with the control ring 240 in the “CO2” position, aligning the vent control grooves 246 with the upper and lower vents 228 and 229. The interior of the cap 220 forms a funnel, to which the user can add a reactant liquid, such as water, so that the reactant liquid, such as water, accumulates into the upper chamber. Once the upper chamber has been filled, the control ring 240 is rotated to the “locked” position, trapping the reactant liquid, such as water, in the upper chamber.
The reaction vessel 260 is filled with a predetermined amount of carbonating reactants, such as citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, and then attached to the cap 220. The whole assembly is then mounted to the container 212 that has been filled with the beverage to be carbonated. Once firmly attached to the container 212 and the distribution tube 272 is reattached, the control ring 240 is again rotated to the “CO2” position, releasing the trapped reactant liquid, such as water, into the reaction vessel 260. The reactant liquid, such as water, and the reactants initiate production of carbonating gas.
The produced gas leaves the reaction chamber 260 through the lower vents 229 and into the upper chamber via upper vents 228. Since the annular spring 223 normally presses down on the piston 238, releasing the ball 304 and unsealing the port 282, the gas flows through the lance 300 and the tube 272 into the beverage. As the interior pressure slowly decreases over time, the lessening pressure becomes less than the pressure from the spring 302, at which point the ball 304 seals the port 282.
The user can vigorously shake the carbonating device 200 for a brief period of time after rotating the control into the “locked” position. The shaking helps to recharge the carbonating reaction. Then the control ring 240 can be returned to the “CO2” position to recommence distribution of the carbonating gas. The above can be repeated until the desired carbonation has been reached. Then the beverage is ready to be enjoyed.
As with the carbonation device 10, embodiments of the carbonation devices 100, 200 are compact, efficient apparatus for producing carbonated beverages on demand. The endothermic reaction provides some cooling to the beverage. Moreover, the construction of the alternative carbonation devices 100, 200 permits easy assembly and disassembly for storage, travel and cleaning.
Another embodiment of a carbonation device 400 is shown
As shown in
A reciprocating syringe piston 440 with a piston rod 444 reciprocates within a central bore 427 formed through the top of the cap 420 to selectively open or close the opening of the reaction vessel 430, i.e., a valve. The piston rod 444 is sealed from atmosphere by a piston seal O-ring 413. The bottom of the syringe piston 440 includes a downwardly extending post or bushing 448 having a through bore or port 449. The port 449 permits transfer of fluid or gas between the reaction vessel 430 and the upper portion of the syringe piston 440. A button 442 is formed adjacent the port 449, and the button 442 performs similar to the button 239. The carbonation device 400 includes a biasing means, such as the spring 441 disposed between the cap 420 and the bushing 448, to normally keep the syringe piston 440 in the down position, sealing the reaction vessel 430. The strength of the spring 441 is predetermined such that pressure from the reaction vessel 430 can move the syringe piston 440 to open the valve during the carbonation process. The bushing 448 and the upper portion of the syringe piston 440 define a bowl for storage and transfer of fluids and gases, as in the previous embodiments. The syringe piston 440 also includes a second, relatively large diameter O-ring 417 and a third, smaller diameter O-ring 418 providing the required seals for the syringe piston 440. Reciprocation of the syringe piston 440 can be facilitated by using the handle ring 422. Moreover, the carbonation device 400 can include a locking mechanism to keep the syringe piston 440 in the down or “locked” position.
When using carbonation producing reactants, the cap 420, container 412, syringe piston 440 and the reaction vessel 430 operate substantially similar to the carbonation device 100. In most respects, the biased syringe piston 440 functions similarly to the flexible diaphragm syringe piston 140. However, when the syringe piston 440 is raised, either manually via the handle ring 422, or by increased pressure from the reaction vessel 430, so that the product gas flows from the reaction vessel 430 through the gaps of the threads 432.
To use a cartridge in the carbonation device 400, the carbonation device 400 includes a lance valve assembly 460. The lance valve assembly 460 can be selectively attached to the interior of the reaction vessel 430 with matching external threads 474 on the lance valve assembly 460 and internal threads 434 in the reaction vessel 430. The lance valve assembly 460 includes a funnel-shaped body 461 having a central bore for installation of a ball 472, a spring 470, and a lance or spear 466. The lance 466 is retained in the bore by a retaining ring 468. The spring 470 biases the ball 472 against the opening or port 473 to normally close the port 473. The lance 466 includes a pointed end adapted to pierce the nipple of a cartridge and a bore or hole 467 permitting flow of gas from the pierced cartridge. The bottom of the body 461 is curved to conform with the shape of the cartridge, providing a secure mounting for the cartridge inside the reaction vessel 430. The upper portion of the body 461 includes an annular raised lip 474 extending upwardly a predetermined distance such that when the bottom of the syringe piston 440 rests thereon, a gap is maintained between the port 473 and the bottom of the syringe piston 440. In this manner, the gas is free to flow as long as the port 473 remains open. The raised lip 474 is configured to allow the flow of gas through the gaps of the threads 432 by discontinuities or gaps around the lip 474.
In use, the cartridge is installed inside the reaction vessel 430. The lance valve assembly 460 is threaded inside the reaction vessel 430 to secure the cartridge therein and simultaneously pierce the nipple thereof with the lance 466. Once the reaction vessel 430 is secured to the cap 420 and the cap 420 secured to the container 412, the piston rod 444 is pressed down manually or by the strength of the spring 441 to move the ball 472 with the button 442.
As the gas is released from the cartridge, the gas increases internal pressure that eventually overcomes the force of the spring 441 and slowly raises the ball 472 and the syringe piston 440. In the meantime, the gas flows through the threads 432 to carbonate the beverage. Vigorous shaking or agitation and repetition of the above increases carbonating gas production and absorption till the desired level of carbonation has been reached.
A still further embodiment of a carbonation device 500 is shown in
As shown in
A carabiner loop or handle 522 extends from one side of the cap 520 for ease of transport or attachment to a backpack or any other means for securely hanging the carbonation device 500. The cap 520 includes a substantially hollow cylindrical body having internal threads 521 on the cap 520 that are adapted for mating with external threads 514 on the container 512. A concentric annular wall 524 is disposed inside the cap 520 and includes a plurality of internal threads 523 for mounting a reaction vessel or cup 530 with mating threads 532. The carbonation device 500 utilizes an endothermic reaction to produce carbonating gas, i.e. CO2, within the reaction vessel 530. The gas feeds by the carbonating gas distribution system into the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage, to be carbonated from the reaction vessel 530 through gaps associated with the threads 532 towards the interior of the container 512. The threads 532 desirably do not extend continuously around the reaction vessel 530. Instead, the threads 532 are configured to have gaps or less restricted passages for gas or CO2 to flow from the reaction vessel 530 into the container 512. One example of such gaps or non-restricted passages is best seen in
To insure an airtight and/or watertight seal of the cap 520 during the carbonation process, a first O-ring 516 is disposed between the cap 520 and the container 512. While this seal is needed to facilitate infusion of carbonating gas into the liquid, the pressure within the container 512 will continuously increase over time unless relieved in some manner or until the reactants have been completely consumed. Even in the case of the latter, residual gas and the pressure associated therewith still exist. For example, this type of situation can lead to difficulties in unscrewing the cap 20 from the container 12 in the previously described carbonation device 10, mainly due to the first O-ring 16 being forced to remain on the top edge of the neck opening of the container 12. In other words, the first O-ring 16 normally sits inside an annular groove in the interior of the cap 20, this annular groove being a trough at the top of the annular space between the internal threads 21 and the annular wall 24 as best seen in
In order to compensate for these types of instances, the carbonation device 500 includes as a part of the pressure relief system a seal pressure relief means for relieving excess gas pressure from inside the container 512. The seal pressure relief means includes an annular groove 516a and at least one seal pressure relief vent 520a. Unlike the annular groove in the carbonation device 10, the annular groove 516a inside the cap 520 has been provided with an extended profile, i.e. instead of a rounded trough of substantially the same diameter as the cross section of the first O-ring 516, the annular groove 516a includes a more elongated or squared profile as best seen
In operation, the profile of the annular groove 516a assists in directing the pressurized gas substantially perpendicularly towards the outer rim of the cap 520. If the pressure is especially strong, the pressure can be sufficient to deform the first O-ring 516a, and the gas will escape through the seal pressure relief vents 520a until a state of equilibrium has been reached. Thus, the pressure relief via the pressure relief vents 520a permits a much easier uncapping of the cap 520.
It should be noted that the first O-ring 516 still maintains an airtight and watertight seal despite the vents 520a, especially when the cap 520 is in the capped position, i.e. in the capped position, the first O-ring 516 is deformed to a certain extent by the threaded connection and the force therefrom which then forms a secure seal. The function of the seal pressure relief means is to relieve excessive gas pressure by allowing excess gas to leak out when the internal pressure is too high, i.e. an active pressure relief during uncapping. The seal pressure relief means also helps to prevent potential embarrassing messes from the carbonated liquid inside the container 512. As with carbonated sodas and other carbonated beverages, opening an agitated can or bottle can suddenly release the contents everywhere due to the abrupt pressure release. In contrast, when a user desires to drink the contents of the container 512, the initial unscrewing of the cap 520 provides some space where the first O-ring 516 can move, due to internal pressure, from the normal position covering the vent 520a to a position, at least partially, uncovering the vent 520a thereby unlocking the seal. This allows the gas to escape in a more gradual and controlled manner eliminating much of the potential disarray from expelled carbonated liquid at pressure. Alternatively, the first O-ring 516 will stay in place inside the annular groove 516a and deform upwardly to partially uncover the vent 520a from the bottom.
The container 512 also includes as a part of the pressure relief system a passive means of relieving pressure. As best shown in
The reaction chamber or vessel 530 can be a substantially hollow body having a dome-shaped closed end and an opposite open end. The outer surface of the reaction vessel 530 can also include grip-enhancing protrusions to assist in handling and mounting. In this exemplary embodiment, the reaction vessel 530 includes a plurality of ribbing 534 angularly spaced around the reaction vessel 530. In addition to grip enhancement, the ribbing 534 increases the structural integrity of the reaction vessel 530 for withstanding the pressures therein. Various other configurations can be provided to enhance grip such as textured surfaces, friction enhanced layers and the like. The reaction vessel 530 is desirably made from plastic or other durable materials that can withstand the pressures experienced by the reaction vessel 530 in a safe manner. Similar materials are applicable to the container 512.
In order to produce the CO2 for carbonation, the reaction vessel 530 is filled with a predetermined amount of carbonating material, such as sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, either in powder or tablet form. By mixing the sodium bicarbonate and citric acid with a reactant liquid, such as water, carbonating gas, such as CO2, can be formed therein and distributed. The reactant liquid, such as water, is supplied by a syringe piston 540, which serves as both a means of delivering reactant liquid, such as water, to the reaction vessel 530 and as a valve for delivering the CO2 to the container 512. In general, the supplied reactant liquid, such as water, reacts with the carbonating material pressurizing the reaction vessel 530. Once pressure has been built to a desired level, the syringe piston 540 is raised from the top of the reaction vessel 530 to open a passage for the gas to escape into the container 512.
As shown in
The syringe piston 540 includes additional seals to provide a pressure-tight seal. An upper, circular radially extending flange 544 at the top of the syringe piston 540 includes an annular groove or channel 544a defined therein for a second, relatively large diameter O-ring 517. The second O-ring 517 can also be referred to as an upper piston O-ring. A lower circular flange 545 extends radially from the bottom of the syringe piston 540. The lower flange 545 also includes an annular groove or channel 545a for insertion of a third, smaller O-ring 518. The third O-ring 518 can also be referred to as a lower piston O-ring. Both the lower circular flange 545 and the third O-ring 518 are smaller in diameter with respect to the upper circular flange 544 and the second O-ring 517. A plurality of angularly spaced ribs or walls 550 extend between the lower circular flange 545 and the bottom outer surface of the bowl 541 providing structural support to the lower circular flange 545 and enhancing the structural rigidity of the syringe piston 540. An elongate, upstanding pressure relief post 552 can be disposed near the rim of the bowl 541 with a portion thereof protruding upwardly past the top edge of the upper circular flange 544. This pressure relief post 552 serves as an actuator for the pressure relief valve 570, the details of which will be described below.
The syringe piston 540 also includes means for recirculating liquid and/or gas back into the reaction vessel 530 and thereby the container 512 during operation. This serves as another means of alleviating or stabilizing excess pressure in the overall system as can be included as a part of the pressure relief system. As shown, the piston rod 542 is provided with a hollow stem 542a in communication with at least a pair of inlet vents or passages 542b. In this exemplary embodiment, the hollow stem 542a is an elongate, stepped blind bore formed inside and extending substantially the length of the piston rod 542. The lower, open end of the hollow stem 542a tapers outwardly into a mounting recess 546b of a one-way valve boss 546. A one-way valve 546a is mounted in the mounting recess 546b. The one-way valve 546a can be one of a variety of valve configurations such as an umbrella valve, check valve, duck bill valve, and the like. A side vent channel 546e extends radially from the interior of the mounting recess 546b to the outer surface of the syringe piston 540. As best seen
The piston rod 542 includes a pair of spaced annular grooves 543a, 543b where a corresponding one of shaft O-rings 513a, 513b can be mounted to provide an airtight and watertight seal in the bore 527 during reciprocation of the syringe piston 540. The inlet vents 542b extend radially towards the outer surface of the rod 542, and each open end of the inlet vents 542b is disposed between the annular grooves 543a, 543b. The bore 527 includes openings 526a within the path of reciprocation of the syringe piston 540 such that during select reciprocation of the syringe piston 540, the inlet vents 542b are exposed to the bore openings 526a at select reciprocated position. This allows flow of gas or fluid through the inlet vents 542b, down through the one-way valve 546a. The one-way valve 546a permits the gas or fluid to flow from inside the syringe piston 540 back into the container 512. As best seen in
An annular collar 551 fits around the central column 526 providing structural reinforcement for the central column 526. This type of reinforcement counters potential instances of deformation or expansion of the central column 526 due to excess pressure buildup, which can potentially compromise the functionality of the syringe piston 540 and the selective valve action of the seals 513a, 513b. The annular collar 551 also includes a pair of opposing vent grooves 551a (
As best shown in
As best shown in
In order to insure that the deflector shield remains in place after assembly, the pass-through opening 554a includes an arcuate segment 554d and a notch 554b at the periphery of the deflector shield 554. When assembled, upwardly projecting tabs 547a on the fins 547 engage or substantially engage the lateral ends of the arcuate segment 554d, securing and stabilizing the deflector shield 554 on top of the bowl 541. At the same time, the notch 554b engages or substantially engages a side of the pressure relief post 552 for similar function. Thus, the notch 554b is desirably shaped to conform to the shape of the pressure relief post 552. By this construction, the deflector shield 554 is secured in place in at least two different locations which prevents the deflector shield 554 from inadvertently rotating on top of the bowl 541.
The deflector shield 554 serves to block as much of the reaction slurry from escaping into the container 512 as possible and insures that only CO2 flows into the beverage during the carbonation process. As is evident from the operation of the carbonation device 10, the carbonation device 500 is also selectively shaken to propagate the carbonation process. Such actions can result in unwanted reaction slurry being introduced into the beverage. The deflector shield 554 minimizes such occurrences by functioning as a plate within a reflux distillation process that helps separate high volatiles from the low volatiles. In this instance, the carbonating gas is treated as an analog of a high volatile and the reaction slurry is treated as an analog of a low volatile. The carbonation device 500 can be provided with a plurality of deflector shields—stacked or strategically placed at select locations in the exhaust pathway, etc.—to increase the reflux and distillation effect, thereby minimizing slurry potentially and undesirably being introduced into the beverage.
As best shown in the above drawings, the interior rim portion of the reaction vessel 530 is tapered outward forming a frustoconical shaped opening. The syringe piston 540 also has an overall frustoconical shape between the upper flange 544 and the lower flange 545 that fits snugly over the top of the reaction vessel 530 when assembled. When the syringe piston 540 is plunged downward during operation to the lowermost point of travel, the syringe piston 540 seals against the open end of the reaction vessel 530 and closes the reaction vessel 530 off from the beverage container 512, thereby stopping the flow of CO2 gas into the beverage. The seal of the reaction vessel 530 is facilitated by the lower piston O-ring 518 engaging the inner wall of the reaction vessel 530 below the taper thereof. The upper piston O-ring 517 provides a seal above the rim of the reaction vessel 530 by engaging the interior of the annular wall 524, but the seal of the upper piston O-ring 517 is for sealing the space 546d between the upper circular flange 544 and the lower circular flange 545 thereby forming a chamber through which excess gas or fluid can flow through the hollow stem 542a, past the one-way valve 546a, through the side vent channel 546c, and back into the container 512 via the discontinuities 533 as described above.
The reaction vessel 530 also includes a plurality of pressure relief notches 536, as a part of the pressure relief system, angularly spaced around the interior surface of the reaction vessel 530. The pressure relief notches 536 have been configured so that they are disposed above the lower piston O-ring 518 when the syringe piston 540 is in the lowermost position of reciprocation. When the syringe piston 540 is selectively raised during the carbonation process or to manually relieve pressure, the lower piston O-ring 518 rises above the pressure relief notches 536. This action provides openings that permit the pressurized gas to circulate within the overall system in a less constricted manner, especially during selective, manual depressurizing of the carbonation device 500 via the manual pressure relief valve 570. Additionally, the pressure relief notches 536 provide a more gradual and thereby controlled pressure dispersion by presenting an initial opening for release of pressure rather than an abrupt depletion that normally occurs from a reaction vessel without such pressure relief notches. In the exemplary embodiment, the pressure relief notches 536 are constructed as shallow depressions or recesses within the interior wall of the reaction vessel 530. These pressure relief notches 536 can be provided by a variety of different shaped recesses or even small orifices that extend out to the threads 532.
The operation of the syringe piston 540 is provided by an actuating mechanism 560 best seen in
The actuating mechanism 560 can also include a locking assembly for keeping the lever in the inoperative or down position, especially for transport. Another main aspect for the locked position is that the locked position seals the syringe piston 540 against the top of the reaction vessel 530 whenever needed, i.e., the locked position closes the valve. The locking assembly includes a slidable locking bar, rod or beam 566 received in correspondingly spaced mounting slots 567 formed in the recess walls of the recess 526b. The locking bar 566 can be an elongate beam having a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section. A central rib 562a on the bottom of the lever 562 includes a locking slot 568 corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the locking bar 566 to form a dovetail join when the locking bar 566 is in the locked position. To release the lock, the user slides the locking bar 566 until an unobstructed zone 569 mates with the locking slot 568, where the dovetail join cannot form. In this position, the lever 562 is free to move. Other locking mechanisms, such as latches or spring locks, can also be employed, for example.
During operation of the carbonation device 500, the interior pressure can at times require release in addition to the passive and active means described above. In that regard, the carbonation device 500 includes, as a part of the pressure relief system, a manual pressure relief valve 570 disposed on top of the cap 520 in a recess 571 adjacent the actuating mechanism 560. The pressure relief valve 570 includes a valve stem 576 covering a relief hole or bore 529. The valve stem 576 is held in place by the combined action of a biasing means, such as a spring 574 and a nut 572 threaded into the recess 571. The spring 574 holds the valve stem 576 against the bore 529, and a seal ring 577 is disposed between the valve stem 576 and the bore 529 to substantially prevent undesirable leaks. Also, various springs, such as a clip spring or an elastomeric sleeve, can be used for the relief valve 570, for example.
The valve stem 576 also includes an elongate post 576a extending down past the bore 529 to be disposed a select or predefined distance above and in line with the pressure relief post 552. The elongate post 576a is selectively acted on by the pressure relief post 552 in order to manually move the valve stem 576 up within the bore 529, thereby unsealing the bore 529 allowing the pressure and gas to vent.
The above manual pressure relief is facilitated by user operation of the lever 562. As best shown in
The following describes how to use the carbonation device 500. When a user desires to carbonate a beverage, the cap 520 is removed from the container 512 to remove the reaction vessel 530. The container 512 is filled with some reactant liquid, such as water, and the cap 520 replaced. The container 512 is turned upside down so that the reactant liquid, such as water, pools toward the cap 520. The lever 562 is then unlocked and pivoted up and down repeatedly to reciprocate the syringe piston 540. The reciprocation of the syringe piston 540 creates a vacuum that pulls the reactant liquid, such as water, into the cup or bowl 541 through the port 549. The cup or bowl 541 is filled to the desired or predefined limit, such as when substantially no more air bubbles escape through the port 549.
Once filled with a reactant liquid, such as water, the reaction vessel 530 is filled with a predetermined amount of carbonating reactants and mounted to the cap 520. The container 512 is then filled with the beverage to be carbonated, and the cap 520 is reattached. In the upright position, the lever 562 is cycled several times to dispense the reactant liquid, such as water, through the port 549. The reactant liquid, such as water, contacts the effervescent reactants within the reaction vessel 530 and triggers the start of the chemical reaction. After a short period of time, the lever 562 is placed in the up position to open the top of the reaction vessel 530, which permits flow of the carbonating gas from the reaction vessel 530 into the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage. It is noted that during this operation, the configuration of the syringe piston 540 and the limited travel facilitated by the piston rod 542 allows for only a fraction of the water to be dispensed into the reaction vessel 530 at a time. While it is possible to empty the full contents of the syringe piston 540 at one time with corresponding modifications of the syringe piston 540 and the reaction vessel 530, such a configuration can cause a difficult to control reaction with the carbonating reactants, i.e., the reaction and pressure buildup can be too rapid. To help prevent this type of occurrence, the carbonation production is staggered by using discreet amounts of a reactant liquid, such as water, per cycle until all the reactant liquid, such as water, has been consumed. Thus, carbonation occurs over a relatively longer period of time for a relatively more even and efficient consumption and absorption of the gas into the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage.
Additionally, the pressure relief notches 536 inside the reaction vessel 530 ease circulation of the pressurized gas when the syringe piston 540 is raised. This allows for better controlled effervescent processing. If the internal pressure is too great, the user can raise the syringe piston 540 further in order to operate the manual pressure relief valve 570 as described above. Furthermore, the flow of gas is not limited to just the reaction vessel 530 and the container 512. The gas can also flow back into the syringe piston 540 through the port 549. From there, the gas can flow through the inlet vents 542b down the hollow stem 542a and through the one-way valve 546a to be circulated back into the beverage to be carbonated.
As naturally occurs, the gas production reaches equilibrium where carbonation is at a minimum. At this point, the user operates the lever 562 into the down position, closing the reaction vessel 530. The user then locks the lever 562 and shakes the carbonation device 500 vigorously for a short time. This agitation can serve two purposes, for example. The first purpose can result in increased production of carbonating gas by increasing the reaction between the reactants. The second purpose can result in forcing the remaining gas in the container 512 to be absorbed into the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage, due to the liquid moving inside the container 512. Both can result in optimizing carbonation of the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage.
When the newly generated CO2 reaches a desired pressure level, the lever 562 can be raised to the up position to thereby open the top of the reaction vessel 530 and allow the gas to escape into the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage. The above is repeated until the liquid, such as a fluid or a beverage, has been carbonated to the user's satisfaction.
It is to be understood that the carbonation devices 10, 100, 200, 400, 500 can encompass a wide variety of embodiments. For example, the carbonation devices 10, 100, 200, 500 are desirably made from durable plastic, but other materials, such as aluminum, steel, composites, wood or any combination thereof, can also be used. In addition, threading and other components can be sized to fit a variety of bottles and containers. Moreover, with respect to the carbonation device 200, the locations, shape and size of the various ports and vents in the cap 220 and the control grooves in the control ring 240 can be rearranged, so long as they can be aligned to form pathways for the water and carbonating gas. In various embodiments, the lance 300 can be incorporated into the carbonation devices 10, 100 in a similar manner as that shown in the carbonation device 400. Furthermore, the carbonation devices 10, 100, 200, 400, 500 can include a variety of colors and indicia for aesthetic appeal, advertising, personal messaging or indicators of various components.
In still further embodiments to the above, a different kind of valve system can be used to collect and transfer a reactant liquid, such as water, to a reaction vessel. For example, a rotatable trough can be used to collect a preselected amount of reactant liquid, such as water, in one position, and in another rotated position, dumps the reactant liquid, such as water, to a reaction vessel. Moreover, with respect to the carbonation device 200, the locations, shape and size of the various ports and vents in the cap 220 and the control grooves in the control ring 240 can be rearranged, so long as they can be aligned to form pathways for a liquid, such as water, and carbonating gas.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
This is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 12/978,386, filed Dec. 23, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,641,016, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 12/591,407, filed Nov. 18, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,267,007, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140070432 A1 | Mar 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12978386 | Dec 2010 | US |
Child | 14083329 | US | |
Parent | 12591407 | Nov 2009 | US |
Child | 12978386 | US |