Low-pressure carbonation for carbonated soft drink equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10343887-B2
Application number	US-201715687995-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A carbonated drink dispensing system includes a carbonation tank, a CO2 cylinder configured to deliver CO2 to the carbonation tank at a pressure of between 50 psi and 60 psi, a low-pressure pump configured to pump water into the carbonation tank, and a level sensor configured to determine when the water in the carbonation tank has reached a pre-determined level. The low-pressure pump is configured to stop pumping water when the level sensor determines that the water in the carbonation tank has reached the pre-determined level. The low-pressure pump starts pumping water again after a time delay.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carbonated drink dispensing system, comprising:
a carbonation tank;
a CO2 cylinder configured to deliver CO2 to the carbonation tank at a pressure of between 50 PSI and 60 PSI;
a low-pressure pump configured to pump water into the carbonation tank;
a level sensor configured to determine when the water in the carbonation tank has reached a pre-determined level; and
a controller,
wherein the low-pressure pump is configured to stop pumping water when the level sensor determines that the water in the carbonation tank has reached the pre-determined level,
wherein the low-pressure pump starts pumping water after a time delay, and
wherein the controller is configured to determine the time delay based on a desired concentration of CO2 to water.

2. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the low-pressure pump comprises a diaphragm pump.

3. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the low-pressure pump comprises a positive displacement pump.

4. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the low-pressure pump comprises a self-priming pump.

5. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the low-pressure pump operates at a pressure of between 60 PSI and 120 PSI.

6. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein a highest pressure in the carbonated drink dispensing system is 125 PSI.

7. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the low-pressure pump based on the level sensor determining that the water in the carbonation tank has reached the pre-determined level.

8. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined level comprises a high level.

9. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the time delay is between 0.5 and 6 seconds.

10. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor is configured to determine when the water is no longer at the pre-determined level.

11. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the time delay begins upon dispensing of a carbonated drink from the carbonated drink dispensing system.

12. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor comprises a capacitance level sensor.

13. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the level sensor comprises an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver.

14. A carbonated drink dispensing system comprising:
a carbonation tank;
a low-pressure pump configured to pump water into the carbonation tank;
a level sensor configured to determine when the water in the carbonation tank has reached a pre-determined level;
beverage dispensing valves operatively connected to the carbonation tank;
a plurality of gas pumps configured to pump beverage concentrate to the beverage dispensing valves;
a CO2 cylinder; and
a pressure regulator configured to deliver CO2 from the CO2 cylinder to the carbonation tank at a first pressure and from the CO2 cylinder to the plurality of gas pumps at the first pressure,
wherein the low-pressure pump is configured to stop pumping water when the level sensor determines that the water in the carbonation tank has reached the pre-determined level, and
wherein the low-pressure pump starts pumping water after a time delay that is based on a desired concentration of CO2 to water.

15. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 14 , further comprising tubing between the pressure regulator and the carbonation tank, wherein the tubing comprises polyethylene.

16. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 15 , further comprising quick connectors configured to connect sections of the tubing, wherein the quick connectors comprise plastic.

17. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein the first pressure is less than 60 PSI.

18. The carbonated drink dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein the first pressure is 55 PSI.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Bhutani Gurmeet Singh
• Kamble Rahul Sadashiv
• Gulati Amandeep Singh

Classifications

• B67D1/1243 Primary

  comprising flow or pressure sensors, e.g. for controlling pumps · CPC title

• B67D1/0051

  for mixing outside the nozzle · CPC title

• B67D1/1252

  Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation (for beer engines B67D1/025) · CPC title

• B67D2210/00104

  Cooling only · CPC title

• B67D2210/00154

  Level detected by a float · CPC title