The present disclosure generally pertains to carbonators for carbonating beverages, and more particularly to a carbonator dissolver nozzle, and to a method of manufacture of such a nozzle.
Carbonators are used for producing carbonated beverage, such as carbonated water. Carbonators for domestic use are typically designed to be placed free-standing on a table or kitchen countertop and are operated manually by a person. Such a carbonator, a.k.a. a soda water machine, typically comprises a carbon dioxide cylinder that is connected to a plastic nozzle that is inserted into a beverage bottle that contains liquid. The carbonator further comprises an operating arrangement that allows the user to open a valve in the carbon dioxide cylinder to introduce carbon dioxide into the beverage bottle. The carbon dioxide dissolves in the liquid in the beverage bottle.
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a dissolver nozzle for a carbonator of the above-mentioned type that is sturdy, has a long life and avoids or minimises beverage contact with plastic material as a result of the beverage being carbonated. Further, the dissolver nozzle shall be easy to manufacture and minimise icing within the nozzle during introduction of the carbon dioxide into the beverage bottle.
Such a carbonator dissolver nozzle is according to the present disclosure provided in form of a carbonator dissolver nozzle for introducing CO2-gas into a beverage by means of a carbonator, wherein the nozzle is adapted to protrude downward from the carbonator and into a beverage bottle that may be fastened to the carbonator, the nozzle comprising an upstream end that is adapted to be attached to the carbonator, a downstream end that is adapted to be immersed in the beverage within the bottle, and a conduit leading though the nozzle from the upstream end to the downstream end. At least the portion of the nozzle that is immersed in the beverage during use is entirely made of metal, or the portion consists of parts entirely made of metal with non-metal sealing material between said parts, wherein at least the portion of the nozzle that is immersed in the beverage during use has an outer surface of metal. Further, the area of the conduit is reduced in steps and comprises a main conduit section, and outlet taper section and an ultimate conduit section.
Since the portion of the nozzle that is in contact with the beverage has an outer surface of metal, the beverage will not be in contact with any other material, such as plastic, as a result of being carbonated. Metal may in some aspects be more hygienic than plastic, especially after long time use of the nozzle. Metal may be provided with a fine surface finish and be more resistant to scratching and fatigue than other materials, such as plastic. Further, a nozzle at least partly made of metal may have a high strength.
The present nozzle is advantageously used when carbonating beverage in a non-plastic bottle, such as a glass bottle, whereby the beverage may be enclosed and carbonated avoiding contact with plastic material.
The part of the nozzle that forms the CO2-gas outlet may advantageously be made of metal. In this way, the outlet may retain its shape and dimensions even after repeated use possibly including being subject to impacts during handling. A metal outlet may also more easily be reshaped and optimised during a design process, e.g. by machining, as compared to an outlet of plastic material. Furthermore, metal may reduce the icing of the nozzle, which may result from the pressure of the CO2-gas being reduced near the outlet of the nozzle. Also, the stepwise conduit area reduction may result in a less turbulent gas flow which may reduce the icing.
The load bearing parts of the nozzle may be entirely made of metal, the nozzle in addition possibly including non-metal sealing means that are not load bearing. The nozzle may consist of parts entirely made of metal with non-metal sealing material arranged between said metal parts.
Preferably, at least the portion of the nozzle that is immersed in the beverage during use is entirely made of metal. In this way, not even beverage entering into the nozzle during the carbonation process will contact any other material than metal. The lower half of the nozzle may be made of metal. Preferably, the nozzle is entirely made of metal.
Preferably, the metal used in the nozzle, either to form an outer component, a CO2-gas outlet, a load bearing component, or the entire nozzle is food grade metal. Such metals include stainless steel such as SUS304, aluminium such as 3003, 3004 or 5052 or brass such as OT57. Aluminium appear beneficial as it may help reduce icing.
For reasons of easy of manufacture, the area of the conduit is reduced in steps. The conduit comprises a main conduit section, and outlet taper section and an ultimate conduit section. The latter forming the nozzle outlet. Such a conduit may be formed by drilling.
Preferably, the conduit tapers at an angle of 100 degrees or less to form the ultimate conduit section. The outlet taper section thus tapers at an angle of 100 degrees or less. The outlet taper section preferably tapers at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees, most preferably approximately 60 degrees. Brass may form a preferred material for the part of the nozzle that forms the outlet taper section, as brass allows drilling with a small taper angle such as approximately 60 degrees.
Preferably, the ultimate conduit section has a length that does not exceed 1 mm. More preferably, the length of the ultimate conduit section does not exceed 0.5 mm. Preferably, the diameter of the ultimate conduit section does not exceed 1 mm, or 0.5 mm. One advantageous ultimate conduit section has a length of approximately 0.5 mm and a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm.
The conduit preferably comprises a main conduit section and an ultimate conduit section, the main conduit section having an area that is 10 to 50 times the area of the ultimate conduit section. Such a nozzle may be relatively easy to manufacture by drilling. Preferably, the main conduit section extends through at least 80% of the length of the nozzle. Typically, the ultimate conduit section extends through approximately 1% of the length of the nozzle.
Preferably, the nozzle is one-piece. Such a nozzle may be particularly sturdy, easy to handle, and does not require any assembly.
The nozzle may comprise two metal pieces that are adapted to be attached to one another. In this way, one of the metal pieces may form the nozzle outlet that requires high precision manufacture. The metal piece that forms the nozzle outlet may be given a shape that is suitable for high precision manufacture, such as a shape with outer dimensions that correspond each other in size. For example, a cylinder with a height that corresponds to its diameter, e.g. where the height is no longer than three times the diameter.
Preferably, the two metal pieces are a main body part and an outlet part, wherein an ultimate, most downstream, conduit section is formed in the outlet part. The outlet part preferably has a shape with relative dimensions that render the outlet part is suitable for high precision manufacture, as was described in the preceding paragraph.
Preferably, the main body part and the outlet part are adapted to be screwed together, which provides an easy assembly.
The main body part and/or the outlet part may comprise holding means for holding an elastically deformable retaining member, such that the elastically deformable retaining member is deformed upon attaching or assembling the main body part and an outlet part together. The elastically deformable retaining member may retain the main body part and the outlet part together. The holding means may comprise a groove, or may for additional sealing and better retaining comprise two grooves at an axial distance from each other.
The elastically deformable retaining member may be an annular sealing, such as an O-ring.
The present disclosure further provides a method of manufacture of a carbonator dissolver nozzle for a carbonator. The method comprising the steps of drilling a main conduit section through at least 80% of the length of the nozzle, and drilling an ultimate conduit section, wherein the main conduit section has a diameter that is at least four times the diameter of the ultimate conduit section.
The main conduit section may be drilled from the inlet end of the carbonator dissolver nozzle and the ultimate conduit section may be drilled from the outlet end of the carbonator dissolver nozzle. In other words, the main conduit section may be drilled in the flow direction through the nozzle whereas the ultimate conduit section is drilled in the opposite direction, i.e. against the flow direction through the nozzle.
Alternatively, the main conduit portion and the ultimate conduit section may be drilled in the same direction, more precisely in the flow direction through the nozzle.
The method may comprise a first step of providing a carbonator dissolver nozzle precursor, which is subsequently subject to the drilling. The precursor is preferably made of metal.
The present invention will be described further below by way of examples and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
The disclosed embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the embodiments and the drawings.
The nozzle 1 of the first embodiment (
The upper end of the present nozzle 1, below the treads, further comprises two radially opposing flat surfaces such that the nozzle 1 may be gripped and screwed by means of a tool, e.g. a wrench or a spanner. In alternative, the upper end of the nozzle 1 may comprise a polygonal area, or a radial blind hole, allowing the nozzle to be screwed into the carbonator 10 by a suitable tool.
As is shown in
The nozzle has an elongated shape with a length that is approximately eight to ten times its outer diameter. The downstream end of the nozzle, which may also be referred to as the lower end or the outlet end, is rounded so as to not damage e.g. the beverage bottle to be used with the carbonator 10, or the hand of a user. The outlet end comprises a central outlet opening through which CO2 gas is ejected when the carbonator 10 is used. The outlet opening is formed by the most downstream section 2g of the conduit as explained below and illustrated in the figures.
Depending of the amount of water filled into the bottle, roughly half the nozzle 1 is immersed in water when the carbonator 10 is used. In
The conduit 2 comprises a most upstream section 2a that forms a nozzle inlet and a most downstream section 2g that forms a nozzle outlet. Via a first frustoconical taper section 2b, the most upstream section 2a converges into a main conduit section 2c, or main section 2c. The main section 2c forms the chief part of the conduit 2 length. In the embodiment of
In the first embodiment, the main section 2c converges via an outlet taper section 2f into the most downstream section 2g. The outlet taper section 2f has a taper angle α (the angle α is indicated in
Thus, the conduit 2 of the first embodiment comprises a most upstream section 2a, an inlet taper section 2b, a main section 2c, an outlet taper section 2f and a most downstream section 2g fluidly connected in that order. The most upstream section 2a, the main section 2c and the most downstream section 2g are straight and of circular cross section and may be formed by drilling. The taper sections 2b, 2f are frustoconical and may be formed by drilling, more precisely by a conical drill tip.
The inlet taper section 2b has a taper angle that is larger than 90 degrees, approximately 120 degrees. When a nozzle 1 of the present disclosure is attached to a carbonator 10, there is a tubular carbonator head outlet (not shown) protruding into the most upstream section 2a to rest against the inlet taper section. An O-ring (not shown) of the carbonator 10 may be arranged between the carbonator head outlet and the inlet taper section 2b.
It is believed advantageous for the gas flow through the nozzle 1 to reduce the area of the conduit 2 in several steps to the final most downstream section 2g that forms a nozzle outlet. Such a stepwise area reduction may result in a less turbulent gas flow which appears to reduce the icing. A continuous area reduction may be difficult and/or costly to manufacture, when at least a portion of the conduit is formed in metal.
The conduit 2 of the second embodiment (
The nozzles 1 of the first and second embodiments are one-piece metal nozzles 1.
When the treaded main body part 3a and the threaded outlet part 4a are attached to one another by means of the threads, the resulting nozzle 1 has a very similar outer shape as the one of the first or second embodiments. The only visual difference being the joint between the treaded main body part 3a and the threaded outlet part 4a.
The treaded main body part 3a comprises a lower recess 7a, which is open in the downstream direction, into which the threaded outlet part 4a is screwed when the nozzle 1 is assembled. The lower recess 7a is cylindrical and comprises an inner thread, see
Once the threaded outlet part 4a is screwed into the lower recess 7a of the treaded main body part 3a, the threaded outlet part 4a forms the intermediate taper section 2d that has been described above. The upper, or upstream, end of the threaded outlet part 4a now lies flush against the annular inner end surface of the lower recess, as is shown in
Once assembled, the threaded outlet part 4a forms the step section 2e that has been described above. The threaded outlet part 4a further forms the outlet taper section 2f and the most downstream section 2g. The outlet taper angle α of the third embodiment is approximately 90 degrees.
The threaded outlet part 4a is essentially cylindrical with an outer thread on the outside of the portion that forms the step section 2e. The downstream end of the threaded outlet part 4a has an outer diameter that equals the diameter of the main body part 3a. The downstream end of the threaded outlet part is rounded such that the nozzle of the third embodiment when assembled has the same outer form as the nozzle of the first or second embodiments.
The receiving main body part 3b has an outer shape that is similar to the nozzle 1 of the first or second embodiments, apart from a lower circular opening 8 formed by an annular lip portion 9. The receiving main body part 3b of the fourth embodiment has a main conduit section 2c of approximately double the diameter as compared to the nozzles 1 of the earlier embodiments. The receiving main body part 3b of the fourth embodiment includes a lower void 7b into which the grooved outlet part 4b is inserted when the nozzle 1 is assembled. The grooved outlet part 4b extends into the lower circular opening 8 and forms the most downstream section 2g of the conduit 2, thus the outlet opening of the nozzle 1.
The diameter of the lower void 7b is smaller than the diameter of the main conduit section 2c of the fourth embodiment, even though in another example (not shown) the diameter of the lower void 7b may equal the diameter of the main conduit section 2c. The inner sidewall of the lower void 7b is smooth.
The grooved outlet part 4b is of a generally cylindrical form, with an outer dimeter that is slightly smaller than the lower void. The outer circumference of the grooved outlet part 4b comprises at least one, in this example two grooves 5 as is illustrated in
Upon assembly, the grooved outlet part 4b with the two retaining sealings 6b arranged in the grooves 5 is pushed into the main conduit section 2c of the receiving main body part 3b via the nozzle inlet (formed by the most upstream section 2a), though the main conduit section 2c and into the lower void 7b.
The grooved outlet part 4b may be pushed into the lower void 7b by means of a pin or a similar elongated object, until the grooved outlet part 4b reaches the lowermost position resting against the inner surface of the annular lip portion 9. In this position, a lower (downstream) protruding portion of the grooved outlet part 4b extends into the lower circular opening 8 of the grooved outlet part 4b. The most downstream section 2g is formed in the lower protruding portion of the grooved outlet part 4b. The outer diameter of the lower protruding portion and the inner diameter of the lower circular opening 8 are selected such that the lower protruding portion snugly fits in the lower circular opening 8, as is illustrated in
When the grooved outlet part 4b is pushed into the lower void 7b, the retaining sealings 6b are elastically deformed, or compressed, between the grooves 5 and the inner sidewall of the lower void 7b. As the retaining sealings 6b after assembly strive to return to their non-deformed form, they exert a radial expansive force between the grooved outlet part 4b and the lower void 7b and thus the grooved outlet part 4b is retained within the lower void 7b.
The elastic retaining sealings 6b have an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the grooved outlet part 4b and are thus elastically held in the grooves 5. The grooves 5 provide a form fit for the retaining sealings 6b. Once the grooved outlet part 4b is fitted in the lower void 7b, the retaining sealings 6b hinder the grooved outlet part 4b from moving axially within the lower void 7b by frictional forces between the retaining sealings 6b and the inner wall of the lower void 7b.
In the third embodiment (
The outlet parts 4a, 4b both have a form that is advantageous for precision manufacture, as their length is approximately the same as their width. In the examples shown, the outlet part lengths are approximately 1.5 to 2 times the outlet part widths. As a comparison, the entire nozzle 1 has a length that is approximately eight to ten times its width and thus precision drilling (of the most downstream section 2g) there through requires specific tooling and skill.
If the conduit 2 through the nozzle 1 of the first or second embodiment is to be formed by drilling, the main section 2c may be drilled from the inlet end of the nozzle 1 and the most downstream section 2g may be drilled from the outlet end of the nozzle.
Alternatively, the larger main section 2c may be beneficial for precision drilling of the most downstream section 2g through the main section 2c as a drill with an enlarged shank can be used. The most downstream section 2g may thus be drilled in the direction of the gas (CO2) flow through the main section 2c.
In the embodiments of this disclosure, the most downstream section 2g is a narrow gas passage. The most downstream section 2g has a diameter of less than 1 mm, preferably approximately 0.5 mm. The most downstream section 2g has a length (in the direction of gas flow or longitudinal direction of the nozzle 1) of less than 1 mm, preferably approximately 0.5 mm. Such dimensions of an outlet opening have proven suitable for a carbonator 9 of the type referred to above.
In order to reduce the icing, it appears that the relationship between dimensions of the outlet, i.e. the length and transverse area of the most downstream section 2g, and the penultimate straight conduit section (2c or 2e) is of importance. Also, the taper angle α of the outlet taper section 2f shall preferably be below 100 degrees. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the transverse area of the respective penultimate straight conduit section is 10-50 times the transverse area of the most downstream section 2g. It appears that a lower ratio is advantageous. In the second, third and fourth embodiments the transverse area of the respective penultimate straight conduit section 2e is 10-20 times the transverse area of the most downstream section 2g. Also, it appears the length of the most downstream section 2g shall essentially equal its diameter.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2051144-0 | Oct 2020 | SE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/SE2021/050969 | 10/1/2021 | WO |