A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverages and process may include a fluid container containing a fluid ingredient, a conduit fluidly connected to the fluid container, and an electrical conductivity sensor. The electrical conductivity sensor may be (i) fluidly connected to the conduit, and (ii) configured to sense an electrical conductivity of the fluid ingredient flowing through the conduit. The electrical conductivity sensor may further be configured to output (i) a first electrical signal in response to sensing an air bubble, and (ii) a second electrical signal in response to not sensing an air bubble.

A beverage dispensing system, has: a reservoir; a line connected to the reservoir; a tap connected to the line; a first valve connected to the line downstream of the reservoir, the first valve having a first open configuration and a first closed configuration; and a second valve connected to the line, the second valve having a second open configuration and a second closed configuration, the second valve being in the second closed configuration when the first valve is in the first closed configuration, when in the second closed configuration, the second valve blocking fluid communication between the tap outlet and the first valve, the second valve being in the second open configuration when the first valve is in the first open configuration to connect the reservoir to the tap outlet through the first valve and the second valve.

A beverage dispensing system, has: a reservoir; a line connected to the reservoir; a tap connected to the line; a first valve connected to the line downstream of the reservoir, the first valve having a first open configuration and a first closed configuration; and a second valve connected to the line, the second valve having a second open configuration and a second closed configuration, the second valve being in the second closed configuration when the first valve is in the first closed configuration, when in the second closed configuration, the second valve blocking fluid communication between the tap outlet and the first valve, the second valve being in the second open configuration when the first valve is in the first open configuration to connect the reservoir to the tap outlet through the first valve and the second valve.

The apparatus includes a reservoir (2), a liquid source (1), a carbon dioxide source (12), a non-return valve (8), a carbonating vessel (7) to receive liquid from the reservoir (2) via the non-return valve (8), a gas inlet (15) to receive carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source (12), and a dip tube (16) to withdraw carbonated liquid from the carbonating vessel. A pressure relief valve (20) vents gas from the carbonating vessel (7), and a dispense valve (18) controls the supply of carbonated liquid from the dip tube (16) to a dispense outlet (17). A charge control valve (14) controls the supply of carbon dioxide to the carbonating vessel (7). The apparatus has the following modes of operation-charge: the dispense valve (18) is held closed while the charge control valve (14) is opened to admit a charge of carbon dioxide into the carbonating vessel (7); dispense/refill: the dispense valve (18) is opened to dispense carbonated liquid while liquid flows into the carbonating vessel from the reservoir (2) via the non-return valve (8). The carbonated beverage can

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A closure (12) for a beverage keg (10) for the pressurised delivery of a beverage, the closure comprising: a valve housing (38) comprising a valve housing wall (32) and an inlet and configured to house a valve (26) for controlling a flow of pressurised gas through the inlet into a headspace of the beverage keg (10); a venting aperture (27) in the valve housing wall, separate from the inlet and arranged to vent the headspace of the beverage keg; and a barrier (29), integrally formed with the valve housing wall and arranged to seal the venting aperture (27) such that the closure (12) is able to retain the pressurised gas within the keg when the closure is arranged in an unvented configuration, the barrier (29) being configured to rupture due to internal pressure from within the keg in order to switch the closure into a vented configuration in which the venting aperture (27) is no longer sealed by the barrier, wherein the barrier is formed as a geometrical shape having a barrier diameter or a barrier width in the range of 7 mm to 12 mm and wherein, in at least a part of the barrier, a barrier thickness is lower than a thickness of the valve housing in the immediate surroundings of the venting aperture and in the range of 0.02 mm to 0.5 mm.

A dispensing system for a beverage comprises in a tap system a bore for housing a duct. Along the bore, close to or on the duct, at least two electrodes are provided such that at least at some locations along the duct, the two electrodes are provided opposite to one another with the duct in between, thus constituting a capacitor. An oscillating signal is provided to one electrode and a signal is read out from the other electrode. As a beverage is drawn through the duct in a container, capacitance of the capacitor changes. The flowing beverage may have different characteristics, but capacitance may also change as the beverage in the duct is in conducting contact with a container that may be in contact with an earth contact. The change of capacitance results in a change of the amplitude of a detection circuit connected to the second electrode.

Systems and methods for reducing the overall current draw of a fluid mixture dispensing device are disclosed. A disclosed system includes a mixing area, a set of ingredient reservoirs, and a set of electromechanical valves. The set of electromechanical valves are in a one-to-one correspondence with the set of ingredient reservoirs, and fluidly connect the set of ingredient reservoirs and the mixing area during a respective set of dispense times. The system further includes a controller programmed to actuate at least two valves from the set of electromechanical valves to dispense, to the mixing area, at least two ingredients from the ingredient reservoirs associated with the at least two valves. The controller is programmed to actuate the at least two valves in sequence with partially overlapping dispense times and without overlapping opening times.

A stirrer includes a stirring shaft; a plurality of mixing wings extending from the lower end of the stirring shaft and spaced from each other around the stirring shaft; and a conical hub connecting the lower ends of the mixing wings.

A master control device in the configuration of a wand may control pre-programmed aspects of the user's environment using RFID/NFC tags and RFID/NFC readers to initiate pre-programmed behavior in a computer database. This pre-programmed behavior be the control of items that rely on electricity and/or gas, such as lights, electric fireplaces, electric valves, activating the listening feature on a home assistant, accruing a balance, paying for items with a topped-up balance, and locking and unlocking doors. This master control device can be used in the connected home or business, such as a pub, restaurant, hotel, or immersive experience.

Disclosed is a hot water discharging apparatus. A hot water discharging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a water heater for heating water that has flowed into hot water, and discharging the hot water; and a hot water discharge unit that is connected to the water heater so that the hot water discharged from the water heater is discharged to the outside, wherein the water heater is provided with an outlet through which the hot water is discharged, the hot water discharge unit includes a hot water discharge member connected to the outside so that the hot water is discharged to the outside, and the water heater may be disposed so that the outlet is located higher than the hot water discharge-side end of the hot water discharge member.