Seal and anti foam device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9339056-B2
Application number	US-201414245717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2014
Priority date	Apr 4, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A carbonation apparatus includes a pressure vessel includes a cap that has a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The carbonation device also includes a seal. The seal includes a labyrinth preventing contact of a liquid within the pressure vessel with the cap during a carbonation process. A locking mechanism removably locks the cap and seal and antifoam device relative to the pressure vessel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seal for use with a pressure vessel and cap having a gas inlet and a gas outlet port comprising:
a body formed of a sealing material, the body including a sealing portion configured to contact the pressure vessel and cap to seal the cap relative to the pressure vessel; and
a labyrinth configured to prevent contact of a liquid within the pressure vessel with the gas in and gas out ports during a carbonation process.

2. The seal of claim 1 further comprising ribs formed on a top surface of the seal.

3. The seal of claim 1 further comprising an outer channel extending radially inward from the sealing portion.

4. The seal of claim 3 further comprising a center section having a valve.

5. The seal of claim 4 wherein the center section includes an inner channel and a cavity positioned radially inward from the inner channel.

6. The seal of claim 5 wherein the inner channel and the cavity are configured to diffuse and trap any liquids that bypass the valve during the carbonation process.

7. The seal of claim 4 wherein the valve is a flap valve configured to allow gas to flow there through and to diffuse the energy of the liquid contained in the vessel.

8. The seal of claim 5 further comprising:
a first wall separating the outer channel from the inner channel;
a second wall separating the inner channel from the cavity;
at least one first port formed in the first wall pneumatically connecting the outer channel to the inner channel;
at least one second port formed in the second wall pneumatically connecting the inner channel to the cavity.

9. The seal of claim 8 wherein the at least one first port is not radially aligned with the at least one second port.

10. The seal of claim 8 wherein the first wall is configured to contact the cap, thereby preventing the seal from collapsing against the gas outlet port when the pressure vessel is pressurized.

11. The seal of claim 5 wherein the center section includes a detachable cover.

12. The seal of claim 8 wherein center section includes a cover removably attached to the first wall.

13. A batch carbonation apparatus comprising:
a pressure vessel including a cap having a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port,
a seal device positioned between the cap and the pressure vessel to define a first chamber between the cap and the seal device and a second chamber between the pressure vessel and the seal device, the seal device having a labyrinth configured to permit gas flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, but to prevent liquid within the pressure vessel from contacting the gas inlet and gas outlet ports; and
a locking mechanism removably locking the cap and seal device relative to the pressure vessel.

14. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 13 wherein the seal includes a sealing portion that contacts the pressure vessel and cap sealing the cap relative to the pressure vessel.

15. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 13 wherein the seal includes ribs formed on a top surface of the seal sealing the cap and pressure vessel when under pressure during a carbonation cycle.

16. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 14 wherein the seal includes an outer channel that extends radially inward from the sealing portion.

17. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 16 wherein the seal includes a center section having a valve.

18. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 17 wherein center section further includes an inner channel and a cavity positioned radially inward from the inner channel.

19. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the inner channel and cavity diffuse and trap any liquids that bypass the valve.

20. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 17 wherein the valve is a flap valve that allows gas to pass there through and diffuses the energy of the liquid contained in the vessel.

21. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the seal further comprises:
a first wall separating the outer channel from the inner channel;
a second wall separating the inner channel from the cavity:
at least one first port formed in the first wall pneumatically connecting the outer channel to the inner channel; and
at least one second port formed in the second wall pneumatically connecting the inner channel to the cavity.

22. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one first port and the at least one second port are not radially aligned.

23. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 21 wherein the first wall is configured to contact the cap, thereby preventing the seal from collapsing against the gas outlet port when the pressure vessel is pressurized.

24. The batch carbonation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the center section includes a cover.

Assignees

• Cornelius Inc
• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Njaastad David K

Classifications

• B01F3/04794

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• F16J13/24

  with safety devices, e.g. to prevent opening prior to pressure release · CPC title

• B01F3/04808

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F3/04829

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B67D1/0057

  Carbonators · CPC title