Flow compensator

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed including: a housing including a conduit having an inlet port and an outlet port; an insert at least partially disposed within the conduit and including a tapered portion extending from a narrower end proximal the inlet port to a wider end distal the inlet port; and a facility for adjusting the position of the insert within the conduit. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to receive a mixed flow of liquid and gas at the inlet port, direct the mixed flow through the conduit around a portion of the insert disposed within the chamber, and outlet the mixed flow at the outlet port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a conduit having an inlet port and an outlet port;   an insert at least partially disposed within the conduit and comprising:
 a tapered portion extending from a narrower end proximal the inlet port to a wider end distal the inlet port; and 
 a facility for adjusting the position of the insert within the conduit; 
   wherein the apparatus is configured to receive a mixed flow of liquid and gas at the inlet port, direct the mixed flow through the conduit around a portion of the insert disposed within the chamber, and outlet the mixed flow at the outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the conduit comprises a tubular passage extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;   the inlet port comprises an aperture disposed about the longitudinal axis adjacent the proximal end of the tubular passage; and   the outlet port comprises an aperture oriented transverse to the inlet port and adjacent the distal end of the tubular passage.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the tapered portion of the insert extends along the longitudinal axis of the tubular passage and cooperates with a wall of the passage to form a conical channel between the insert and the wall, and   wherein a cross sectional area, taken transverse the longitudinal axis adjacent, of the conical channel is smaller than a cross sectional area, taken transverse the longitudinal axis, of a portion of the tubular passage adjacent the inlet port.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the facility for adjusting the position of the insert within the conduit is configured to adjust the cross sectional area of the conical channel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the tubular passage comprises a tapered wall facing the tapered portion of the insert. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the insert extending into the conduit has one or more surface features configured to interrupt or divert the mixed flow. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the surface features are configured to divert at least a portion of the mixed flow towards the outlet port. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the surface features are configured to reduce the velocity of at least a portion of the mixed flow in regions adjacent the features. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the surface features comprise a plurality of protrusions from a surface of the insert. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a first ring disposed about a longitudinal axis of the insert. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a second ring disposed about a longitudinal axis of the insert, wherein the protrusions in the first ring are longitudinally offset and radially staggered from the protrusions in the second ring. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the surface features comprise a plurality of ribs and channels. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the ribs and channels extend from the wider end of the tapered portion of the insert towards and end of the insert located proximal the outlet channel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the facility comprises a threaded attachment between the housing and insert. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising one or more seals configured to ensure that the conduit is sealed fluid tight except for the inlet and outlet ports. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a carbonator having an outlet for dispensing a flow of carbonated water; and   a flow compensator comprising:
 a housing comprising a conduit having an inlet port and an outlet port; 
 an insert at least partially disposed within the conduit and comprising:
 a tapered portion extending from a narrower end proximal the inlet port to a wider end distal the inlet port; and 
 a facility for adjusting the position of the insert within the conduit; 
 
 wherein the apparatus is configured to receive a mixed flow of liquid and gas at the inlet port, direct the mixed flow through the conduit around a portion of the insert disposed within the chamber, and outlet the mixed flow at the outlet port; and 
   wherein the outlet of the carbonator is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the flow compensator.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the flow compensator is configured to decrease the turbulence of the flow of carbonated water dispensed from the carbonator. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the flow compensator is configured to promote the mixing of carbon dioxide and water in the flow of carbonated water dispensed from the carbonator. 
     
     
         19 . The system of any  claim 16 , wherein the carbonator is an inline carbonator.