Batch carbonator and method of forming a carbonated beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9723863-B2
Application number	US-201514803513-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A batch carbonation apparatus includes a housing defining a vessel cavity. The housing includes an agitation mechanism. The pressure vessel includes a cap that has a CO2 inlet and a CO2 outlet is provided. The pressure vessel also includes a seal. The pressure vessel is moveable into an out of the vessel cavity. A locking mechanism is provided and is attached to the agitation mechanism to removably lock the cap and seal relative to the pressure vessel. A CO2 source is connected to a plurality of valves where each valve has a differing pressure. A selection toggle is attached to the housing. A control mechanism is coupled to the plurality of valves. A user selects a desired carbonation level using the selection toggle and CO2 is introduced to the pressure vessel at a specified pressure wherein the agitation mechanism agitates liquid within the pressure vessel forming a carbonated beverage having a selected carbonation level. Also disclosed is a process of forming a carbonated beverage in a batch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of forming a carbonated beverage comprising:
providing a housing and agitation mechanism;
providing a locking mechanism attached to the agitation mechanism;
providing a pressure vessel including a seal and cap, the cap including a CO2 inlet and a CO2 outlet, introducing a liquid beverage into the pressure vessel;
locking the seal and cap relative to the pressure vessel using the locking mechanism and connecting the pressure vessel to the agitation mechanism;
selecting a level of carbonation;
introducing CO2 at a specified pressure for a predetermined time and agitating the liquid beverage utilizing the agitation mechanism forming a carbonated beverage having a selected carbonation level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising introducing ice into the pressure vessel lowering a temperature of the liquid beverage.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising moving a door attached to the housing, the door covering the pressure vessel when positioned within the housing wherein the door is locked relative to the housing when pressure is introduced into the pressure vessel.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising purging pressure from the pressure vessel through the CO2 outlet following formation of the carbonated beverage.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising unlocking a door after purging pressure.

6. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising purging by opening a pressure vent valve wherein CO2 within the vessel passes through the seal and into the CO2 outlet of the cap.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the CO2 outlet is coupled to an adjustable flow valve regulating the rate of CO2 exiting the pressure vessel.

8. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising purging by actuating a pressure switch when the pressure within the pressure vessel has reached a predetermined value allowing a user to remove the pressure vessel from the housing wherein actuation of the pressure switch toggles a display on the housing indicating pressure within the vessel has been purged.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising locking the pressure vessel by positioning the seal onto the pressure vessel wherein a lip of the seal contacts the pressure vessel, positioning the cap within the locking mechanism, positioning the pressure vessel and seal in the locking mechanism and actuating the locking mechanism connecting the pressure vessel, seal and cap in the locking mechanism and connecting the pressure vessel to the agitation mechanism.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising introducing CO2 into the vessel by actuating one of a plurality of valves having a differing pressure, closing a pressure vent valve, actuating a pressure valve wherein actuation of the pressure switch toggles a display on the housing indicating pressure is within the vessel.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid beverage comprises water and additional flavoring ingredients.

12. A method of forming a carbonated beverage, the method comprising:
introducing a liquid beverage into a pressure vessel;
sealing the pressure vessel;
selecting a selected level of carbonation of the liquid beverage; and
introducing carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel and agitating the liquid beverage in the pressure vessel so as to form a carbonated liquid beverage having the selected level of carbonation;
wherein the liquid beverage in the pressure vessel is agitated by agitating the pressure vessel.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising sealing the pressure vessel by actuating a locking mechanism.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism is attached to the agitating mechanism.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the liquid beverage has a temperature, and further comprising lowering the temperature of the liquid beverage before or while the carbon dioxide is introduced to the pressure vessel.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the liquid beverage is lowered by introducing ice into the pressure vessel.

17. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising inserting the pressure vessel into a housing prior to introducing the carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel.

18. The method according to claim 12 , comprising displaying a pressure within the pressure vessel on a display.

19. The method according to claim 12 , comprising actuating one of a plurality of valves having different pressures in order to introduce the carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel.

20. A method of forming a carbonated beverage, the method comprising:
introducing a liquid beverage into a pressure vessel;
sealing the pressure vessel;
selecting a selected level of carbonation of the liquid beverage; and
introducing carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel and agitating the liquid beverage in the pressure vessel so as to form a carbonated liquid beverage having the selected level of carbonation;
selecting the selected level of carbonation by actuating a toggle.

21. A method of forming a carbonated beverage, the method comprising:
introducing a liquid beverage into a pressure vessel;
sealing the pressure vessel;
selecting a selected level of carbonation of the liquid beverage; and
introducing carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel and agitating the liquid beverage in the pressure vessel so as to form a carbonated liquid beverage having the selected level of carbonation;
venting the pressure vessel once the carbonated liquid beverage has the selected level of carbonation.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the pressure vessel is vented by opening a door on a housing containing the pressure vessel.

23. The method according to claim 22 , comprising regulating the venting of the pressure vessel.

24. A method of forming a carbonated beverage, the method comprising:
introducing a liquid beverage into a pressure vessel;
sealing the pressure vessel;
selecting a selected level of carbonation of the liquid beverage; and
introducing carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel and agitating the liquid beverage in the pressure vessel so as to form a carbonated liquid beverage having the selected level of carbonation;
locking the pressure vessel within a housing prior to introducing carbon dioxide into the pressure vessel.

25. The method according to claim 24 , wherein locking the pressure vessel comprises positioning a seal on the pressure vessel in contact with the pressure vessel.

26. The method according to claim 25 , further comprising actuating a locking mechanism to connect the seal with the pressure vessel.

27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein actuating the locking mechanism links the pressure vessel to an agitation mechanism for agitating the pressure vessel.

Assignees

• Cornelius Inc

Inventors

• Njaastad David K
• Sevcik Scott
• Tinucci Peter S

Classifications

• B01F3/04808

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F3/04106

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• A23L2/54 Primary

  Mixing with gases · CPC title

• A23L2/00

  Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor (soup concentrates A23L23/10); Preparation or treatment thereof (preparation of non-alcoholic beverages by removal of alcohol C12H3/00) · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title