US3608779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage
Assignee: Cornelius Co
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Filing: 1968-12-12
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1988-12-12
Abstract
Abstract Water, syrup, and carbon dioxide gas are combined after precooling the liquids in a refrigerated carbonator, operating at a first static pressure, and thence conducted through a pressure regulator valve to a freezing chamber operating at a lower static pressure where the product is converted into a slush type of beverage under temperature and pressure conditions such that free carbon dioxide gas will be diffused throughout the product which is saturated with CO2 gas in solution. Temperature in the carbonator is used to regulate the carbonating pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard T Cornelius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/236; B01F23/2363; A; A23; A23G; A23G9/00; A23G9/04; A23G9/045; A23G9/20; A23G9/52; A23G2220/00; A23G2220/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. a storage source of carbonated beverage arranged to be pressurized with carbon dioxide gas to a first static pressure; b. a freezing cylinder having a chamber for freezing a quantity of said beverage therein as a semifrozen slush; c. a dispensing valve connected to said freezing cylinder; d. a single fluid conduit connected between said storage source and said freezing cylinder for transferring all the gas and beverage thereto, and including a pressure-reducing regulator valve for controlling said transferring and for hydrostatically applying a substantially constant second static pressure in said freezing chamber when said dispensing valve is closed which is less than said first static pressure; and e. a relief valve connected across said regulator valve to relive a predetermined excess pressure buildup in said freezing chamber due to beverage expansion, back to said storage source, with said regulator valve closed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. a storage source of carbonated beverage; b. a freezing cylinder having a chamber for freezing a quantity of said beverage therein as a semifrozen slush; c. a dispensing valve connected to said freezing cylinder; d. a fluid conduit connected between said storage source and said freezing cylinder for transferring carbonated beverage thereto; e. a pressure regulator arranged to pressurize said storage source with a static pressure of carbon dioxide gas; and f. means responsive to the temperature of carbonated beverage in said storage source and connected to control said pressure regulator for altering said static pressure in said storage source as a function of said temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. a carbonator-blender arranged to be connected to sources of water, syrup and carbon dioxide gas for providing and mixing all the ingredients of the carbonated beverage; b. a first refrigeration system acting on the entire carbonator-blender to remove heat therefrom, and responsive to the temperature thereof; c. a freezing cylinder having a chamber for freezing a quantity of said beverage therein as a semifrozen slush; d. a single fluid conduit connected between said carbonator-blender and said freezing cylinder for transferring carbonated beverage thereto; e. a second refrigeration system independent of said first refrigeration system and acting on said cylinder to remove heat therefrom for effecting said freezing, and responsive to the consistency of the beverage therein; and f. a dispensing valve connected to said freezing cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 4, including a precooling syrup coil for connecting the source of syrup to said carbonator-blender and disposed in heat-transfer relation to said first refrigeration system to be cooled thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 4, including a pair of precooling coils for respectively connecting the sources of syrup and water to said carbonator-blender and both disposed in heat-transfer relation to said first refrigeration system to be cooled thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. a carbonator-blender arranged to be connected to sources of water, syrup and carbon dioxide gas for providing and mixing all the ingredients of the carbonated beverage; b. a first refrigeration system acting on said carbonator-blender to remove heat therefrom; c. a precooling coil for connecting the source of water to said carbonator-blender and disposed in heat-transfer relation to said first refrigeration system; d. a line connecting the source of syrup to said water precooling coil at a point upstream of said first refrigeration system for depressing the freezing point of the water before it is subjected to said heat transfer; e. a freezing cylinder having a chamber for freezing a quantity of beverage therein as a semifrozen slush; f. a single fluid conduit connected between said carbonator-blender and said freezing cylinder for transferring carbonated beverage thereto; g. a second refrigeration system acting on said cylinder to remove heat therefrom for effecting said freezing; and h. a dispensing valve connected to said freezing cylinder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. storing a quantity of carbonated beverage under such a static pressure of carbon dioxide gas and at such a temperature that the degree of carbonation is substantially at saturation and the level of carbonation is stable; b. transferring a portion of said carbonated beverage to a freezing chamber where the same is maintained under static pressure; c. freezing a proportion of water out of the beverage in the chamber whereby carbon dioxide gas is released from the water which is becoming the solid phase and is absorbed by the remaining liquid phase; d. continuing such freezing until more free gas has been so released than can be absorbed by the liquid phase, while stirring the mixture to disperse said free gas throughout the liquid phase; and e. withdrawing a serving of the beverage mixture from the chamber, whereby said more gas insures a foamy serving.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 8, wherein said static pressure in said freezing chamber is less than said static pressure during said storing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 8, wherein the static pressure and the ultimate temperature in the freezing chamber, for any selected magnitude of said proportion, are such that the degree of carbonation tends to be greater than saturation for the amount of carbon dioxide gas initially present.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 8, including a. refrigerating syrup to a temperature near just above 32* F.; and b. blending the refrigerated syrup, water and carbon dioxide gas to provide said quantity being stored.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 8, including controlling said freezing in on-and-off cycles such that the freezing is periodically reinitiated and terminated with said released free gas always present.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. storing a quantity of carbonated beverage; b. applying a static pressure of carbon dioxide gas to said stored quantity; c. sensing the temperature of the stored quantity of carbonated beverage; d. altering said static pressure of carbon dioxide gas as a function of the sensed temperature; e. transferring a portion of said quantity of carbonated beverage to a freezing chamber; f. freezing a proportion of the water out of the beverage in the chamber while under pressure; and g. withdrawing a serving of the beverage from the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage according to claim 13 in which said storing of the carbonated beverage is under such a static pressure of carbon dioxide gas and is at such a temperature that the degree of carbonation is substantially at saturation and the level of carbonation is stable, in which the transferred portion in the freezing chamber is under static pressure such that carbon dioxide gas released from the water which is becoming the solid phase is absorbed by the remaining liquid phase, and in which such freezing is continued until more free gas has been so released than can be absorbed by the liquid phase, while stirring the mixture to disperse said free gas throughout the liquid phase, whereby said more gas insures a foamy serving.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for producing and dispensing a semifrozen carbonated beverage, comprising: a. combining water, syrup and pressurized carbon dioxide gas in a carbonating and blending chamber to provide a stored quantity of the carbonated beverage; b. refrigerating the syrup before it enters said carbonating and blending chamber; c. refrigerating said chamber during carbonation and storage of said beverage in response to temperature; d. transferring a portion of said quantity of carbonated beverage to a freezing chamber; e. freezing a proportion of the water out of the beverage in the freezing chamber while under pressure in response to beverage consistency; and f. withdrawing a serving of the beverage from the freezing chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |