A kit for dispensing a beverage through a dispense tube comprising a dispense valve, the kit comprising: •—an assembly of a keg (1) and a closure (2), the keg (1) and closure (2) assembly comprising: •a. an inner vent mechanism incorporated in the closure or at the interface of keg and closure, the inner vent mechanism configured to fluidly connect the inner space and intermediate space when an overpressure of predetermined value Poo occurs in the flexible bag; and •b. a safety relief mechanism (8a, 8b, 27) incorporated in the closure (2) or at an interface of closure (2) and keg (1), the safety relief mechanism designed to relief pressure when an overpressure h of predetermined value P.sub.01 occurs in the keg, wherein Po1 is larger than Poo; •—a keg connector (38) comprising a base body and: •a) coupling means (40) for connecting the keg connector (31) to the neck portion (5) of the keg (1) or to the closure (2) of said keg; •b) a dispense connector (38a) comprising a dispense tip (38b); •c) a gas connector (39a), comprising a gas tip (39b); characterized in that said connector comprises an overpressure relief vent (41) and an overpressure relief valve (42) to relief pressure when an overpressure in the gas tip (39b) reaches a predetermined overpressure value P.sub.02 and in that at least one of following conditions are fulfilled: •i The predetermined overpressure P.sub.02 at which the relief valve opens is smaller than Po1; •ii the coupling of the keg connector to the keg or closure increases the overpressure Po1 needed to activate the overpressure mechanism in the closure or at the interface of keg and closure to an overpressure Po1′ larger than Po1, with P.sub.o1′ being larger than P.sub.02.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

Beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a dispenser and a beverage container, wherein the beverage container has a neck portion and a shoulder portion adjacent the neck portion, wherein the neck portion is provided with at least an outflow opening and at least one gas inlet opening and wherein the dispenser comprises a housing, wherein the housing is provided with a receptacle for receiving at least part of the container, wherein the container is positioned in the dispenser with the neck and shoulder portion facing downward, such that the neck portion and at least part of the shoulder portion are received in the receptacle, wherein part of the shoulder portion extends close to and/or is in contact with a wall of the receptacle, wherein preferably a lid is provided over the container, enclosing a part of the container extending outside the receptacle.

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing/pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (“WinB”) products.

A system comprising, a pressurized container including hollow portion and outer portion, pressurized container maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, transport system including two conduits, one transport being coupled to an interface and a valve port, the interface coupled to the hollow portion, the interface maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, one valve port allows flow of liquid volume through one conduit to a dispensing interface via another valve port, an external container is airtight and operable to dispense another liquid volume stored within, another conduit is coupled to the external container and further valve port to refill the liquid volume via the valve, pressure regulation system connected to pressurized container, pressure regulation system including a pressure conduit extending from outer portion through a pressure interface, pressure regulation system operable to compress liquid volume in the environment and a control system controls the valve and pressure regulation system.

A system comprising, a pressurized container including hollow portion and outer portion, pressurized container maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, transport system including two conduits, one transport being coupled to an interface and a valve port, the interface coupled to the hollow portion, the interface maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, one valve port allows flow of liquid volume through one conduit to a dispensing interface via another valve port, an external container is airtight and operable to dispense another liquid volume stored within, another conduit is coupled to the external container and further valve port to refill the liquid volume via the valve, pressure regulation system connected to pressurized container, pressure regulation system including a pressure conduit extending from outer portion through a pressure interface, pressure regulation system operable to compress liquid volume in the environment and a control system controls the valve and pressure regulation system.

A system comprising a pressurized container including a hollow portion and an outer portion, the pressurized container being airtight to maintain a pressure level in an environment in the hollow portion, a controllable pressure system coupled to the pressurized container to generate the environment, a transport system including two transport conduits coupled to two liquid volumes stored within the pressurized container, a pressure regulation system connected to the pressurized container, the pressure regulation system including a pressure conduit extending from the outer portion through a pressure interface and into the hollow portion, the pressure regulation system exerting and maintaining the pressure level within the pressurized container to enable compression of liquid volume in the environment, a temperature system to maintain temperature of the transport system, a temperature control system providing a temperature control signal to the temperature system, and a control system controlling the pressure regulation system.

A valve unit for a container includes a valve body and a spring device disposed inside it and provided with an upper plate. The valve body has a top wall provided with a central delivery aperture and a mating sealing lid. The sealing lid and upper plate include reciprocal coupling members.

An example system includes an incompressible, airtight pressurized container operable to maintain a pressure level in an internal pressurized environment, a transport system including at least two liquid transport conduits, and a mixing component, the two liquid conduits each being releasably coupled to a pressurized container interface coupled to the pressurized container and a dispensing interface, each liquid transport conduit including a controllable valve to enable or disable a flow of the liquid volume, the pressurized container interface capable of maintaining the pressure level, the mixing component being coupled to the at least two liquid transport conduits and the dispensing interface, a pressure regulation system connected to the pressurized container, the pressure regulation system operable to exert and maintain the pressure level within the pressurized container to enable compression of the first compressible liquid volume, and a control system operable to control the controllable valves and the pressure regulation system.

Beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a dispenser and a beverage container, wherein the beverage container has a neck portion and a shoulder portion adjacent the neck portion, wherein the neck portion is provided with at least an outflow opening and at least one gas inlet opening and wherein the dispenser comprises a housing, wherein the housing is provided with a receptacle for receiving at least part of the container, wherein the container is positioned in the dispenser with the neck and shoulder portion facing downward, such that the neck portion and at least part of the shoulder portion are received in the receptacle, wherein part of the shoulder portion extends close to and/or is in contact with a wall of the receptacle, wherein preferably a lid is provided over the container, enclosing a part of the container extending outside the receptacle.