Carbonated beverage makers, methods, and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11524268-B2
Application number	US-201716348107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2017
Priority date	Nov 9, 2016
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A carbonated beverage maker includes a water reservoir, a carbon dioxide creation chamber, and a carbonation chamber. The water reservoir holds ice water and has a first impeller and a shroud surrounding the first impeller. The carbon dioxide creation chamber contains chemical elements and receives warm water. The chemical elements react with each other to create carbon dioxide when the warm water is introduced to the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber is connected to the water reservoir and the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber has a second impeller that includes a stem portion and blades. The stem portion and the blades define conduits therein. The blades create a low pressure region in a lower portion of the carbonation chamber such that carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide creation chamber flows through the conduits to the low pressure region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carbonated beverage maker comprising:
a water reservoir configured to hold ice water, the water reservoir having a first impeller and a shroud surrounding the first impeller;
a carbon dioxide creation chamber containing chemical elements and configured to receive warm water, wherein the chemical elements are configured to react with each other to create carbon dioxide when the warm water is introduced to the carbon dioxide creation chamber; and
a carbonation chamber connected to the water reservoir and the carbon dioxide creation chamber, the carbonation chamber having a second impeller,
wherein the second impeller comprises a stem portion and blades, the stem portion and the blades defining conduits therein, and
wherein the blades are configured to create a low pressure region in a lower portion of the carbonation chamber such that carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide creation chamber flows through the conduits to the low pressure region.

2. The carbonated beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the chemical elements comprise potassium carbonate and citric acid.

3. The carbonated beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the chemical elements comprise dry chemical elements.

4. The carbonated beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the chemical elements comprise a tablet.

5. The carbonated beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the chemical elements are disposed in a pod.

6. The carbonated beverage maker of claim 1 , further comprising a needle configured to deliver the warm water to the carbon dioxide creation chamber.

7. A method of creating a carbonated beverage, the method comprising:
delivering cold water to a carbonation chamber;
adding warm water to a mixture of potassium carbonate and citric acid in a carbon dioxide creation chamber to create carbon dioxide;
delivering the carbon dioxide to the carbonation chamber;
entraining the carbon dioxide into the cold water via an impeller disposed in the carbonation chamber to create carbonated water; and
simultaneously with the cold water beginning to be delivered to the carbonation chamber, sending a signal to the carbon dioxide creation chamber to trigger a pre-determined time delay.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising dispensing the carbonated water into a cup.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising mixing a flavor source with the carbonated water.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the flavor source comprises a syrup.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein mixing the flavor source with the carbonated water comprises simultaneously dispensing the carbonated water and the flavor source into the cup.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the flavor source comprises a single serve pod.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the warm water is added to the mixture of potassium carbonate and citric acid after the pre-determined time delay.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the warm water is added to the mixture of potassium carbonate and citric acid for a pre-determined amount of time beginning after the pre-determined time delay.

15. A carbonated beverage making system comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold a diluent, the reservoir having a first impeller configured to agitate the diluent;
a carbon dioxide creation chamber configured to produce carbon dioxide via a chemical reaction;
a carbonation chamber configured to receive the diluent from the reservoir and the carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide creation chamber and mix the diluent and the carbon dioxide to form a carbonated beverage; and
a second impeller disposed in the carbonation chamber, the second impeller configured to create a low pressure region in a lower portion of the carbonation chamber,
wherein the chemical reaction is isolated from the carbonated beverage.

16. The carbonated beverage making system of claim 15 , wherein the carbon dioxide produced via the chemical reaction is at room temperature.

17. The carbonated beverage making system of claim 15 , wherein the chemical reaction is initiated by introducing water to a mixture of chemical elements.

18. The carbonated beverage making system of claim 15 , wherein the chemical reaction comprises a reaction between potassium carbonate and citric acid.

19. The carbonated beverage making system of claim 15 , wherein the carbonated beverage making system is configured to receive carbon dioxide from a gas tank in place of the carbon dioxide creation chamber.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Jersey Steven T
• Brown Stephen
• Goudarzi Farideh
• Headen Steven
• Hember Miles
• Norman Alexander
• Potter Andrew
• Stacey Gary

Classifications

• B01F35/2115

  Temperature · CPC title

• B01F33/4535

  using a stud for supporting the stirring element · CPC title

• B01F23/2364

  using security elements, e.g. valves, for relieving overpressure · CPC title

• B01F35/2209

  Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle · CPC title

• B01F35/32025

  Battery driven · CPC title