Flow circuit for carbonated beverage machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016106136-A1
Application number	US-201514887410-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2015
Priority date	Oct 20, 2014
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas.

First claim

1 . A beverage making machine, comprising:
a precursor liquid supply to provide precursor liquid used to form a beverage; a carbonation tank having an inlet coupled to receive precursor liquid delivered by the precursor liquid supply, and an outlet at a bottom of the carbonation tank to deliver precursor liquid from the tank to a dispense line that leads to a dispensing station; and a carbonating gas supply line fluidly coupled to the dispense line of the carbonation tank to deliver carbon dioxide gas to the outlet of the carbonation tank to carbonate the precursor liquid.

2 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the precursor liquid supply includes a pump arranged to deliver precursor liquid to the carbonation tank.

3 . The machine of claim 2 , wherein the pump is arranged to pump gas to the tank to substantially force precursor liquid from the carbonation tank and into the dispense line.

4 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the carbonating gas supply line is coupled to a source of pressurized carbon dioxide used to carbonate precursor liquid in the tank.

5 . The machine of claim 4 , wherein the source of pressurized carbon dioxide includes a cartridge containing a gas source that is activated to release carbon dioxide in the presence of a fluid.

6 . The machine of claim 5 , wherein the precursor liquid supply is arranged to deliver precursor liquid to the gas source in the cartridge to cause the gas source to release carbon dioxide.

7 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the gas supply line includes a gas delivery valve between a source of pressurized gas and the dispense line that is controllable to open and close the gas supply line, and the dispense line includes a dispense valve that is controllable to open and close the dispense line.

8 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the carbonation tank is coupled to a vent to vent the tank to ambient pressure.

9 . The machine of claim 8 , further comprising a pump to pump a gas into the carbonation tank to force carbonated precursor liquid from the carbonation tank and into the dispense line.

10 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a mixing chamber coupled to the dispense line to mix the carbonated precursor liquid with a beverage medium.

11 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge holder arranged to hold a cartridge having a first chamber containing a gas source to release the carbon dioxide gas.

12 . The machine of claim 11 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to hold a cartridge having a container defining a sealed internal space with a first chamber and a second chamber that are isolated from each other, the first chamber containing a carbon dioxide source in solid form, having adsorbed carbon dioxide, and arranged to emit the carbon dioxide gas for use in carbonating the precursor liquid to form a beverage, the second chamber containing a beverage medium for use in mixing with the precursor liquid to form a beverage.

13 . The machine of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to introduce pressurized gas into the second chamber to cause the beverage medium to exit the second chamber.

14 . The machine of claim 12 , further comprising a carbon dioxide activating fluid supply arranged to provide a fluid to the cartridge chamber for contact with the carbon dioxide source to cause the carbon dioxide source to emit carbon dioxide gas.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to pierce the first chamber to form an opening through which an activating fluid is introduced into the first chamber to cause the carbon dioxide source to emit the carbon dioxide.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the cartridge includes a lid at a top of the container, and the cartridge holder is arranged to pierce the lid to form openings through which the activating fluid enters the first chamber and carbon dioxide exits the first chamber.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged to pierce the second chamber to form an opening through which pressurized gas is introduced to force the beverage medium to exit the second chamber.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the carbonation tank includes a cooling container tank around at least a portion of the carbonation tank arranged to hold ice to cool precursor liquid in the carbonation tank.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the carbonation tank includes an agitator arranged to move precursor liquid in the carbonation tank to aid in carbonation of the precursor liquid.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the precursor liquid supply includes a storage tank to provide precursor liquid to the carbonation tank.

21 . A method of making a beverage, comprising:
delivering precursor liquid to a carbonation tank having an outlet at a bottom of the carbonation tank coupled to a dispense line; delivering carbon dioxide gas under pressure to the carbonation tank via the outlet; carbonating the precursor liquid in the carbonation tank with the carbon dioxide gas; and delivering the carbonated precursor liquid from the carbonation tank to the dispense line via the outlet.

Assignees

• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Gordon Jeremy B
• Johnson Brian B
• Raphaelson Steven
• Liuzza Mario
• Grubb Scott
• Beckett Trevor
• Mackey Steven
• Fedorka Thomas
• Novak Thomas J
• Peterson Peter Rae
• Hember Miles
• Cafaro Enrico Raffaele

Classifications

• B67D1/0443

  comprising a gas generator (apparatus for generating gases in general B01J7/00) · CPC title

• B67D1/0869

  using solid state elements, e.g. Peltier cells · CPC title

• A47J31/40

  Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea · CPC title

• F25B23/006

  boiling cooling systems · CPC title

• F25B2321/025

  Removal of heat · CPC title