| abstract |
A method of an apparatus (10) for making and dispensing carbonated water; the method has the steps of using carbon dioxide propellant gas at a predetermined propellant pressure for propelling flat water through cooling coils (41) and into a carbonater (12), pressurizing the carbonator (12) at a predetermined storage pressure which is less than the propellant pressure, exhausting used propellant gas into cooles propellant water, commonly admitting water and exhausted gas into the carbonator (12) while restricting and backing up the flowing propelled water and gas and mixing them together under a pressure above the storage pressure, and storing and dispensing under the storage pressure; the propellant pressure may be boosted with municipal water pressure; the apparatus has a pneumatically powerable water pump (11), a carbonator (12), a propelled water conduit (13) connecting a pump outlet to a carbonator inlet (31), a fill valve (32) in the water conduit (13) and under control of a carbonator water level sensor (30), a cooling coil (41) in the water conduit (13), a carbon dioxide gas conduit (14) having a propellant gas pressure regulator (50) and outlet (19) connected to the pump and a storage pressure regulator (67) and outlet (51 ) connected to the carbonator (12), an automatic vent valve (54) for venting carbon dioxide from the carbonator (12) and a propellant gas exhaust conduit (15) connecting a pump gas outlet (15) to the propelled water conduit (13) downstream of the cooling coil (41) and upstream of a turbulator (43) leading into a restrictor (56) spray nozzle (34) in the carbonator (12); the fluid control valve (21) is on the pump (11) and controls flow of propellant to and from the pump. |