Aspects of the present disclosure include a water filter mount for a beverage dispenser. The water filter mount releasably mounts a water filter to the beverage dispenser using a rotating motion that does not require any tools. Aspects of the present disclosure also include a gas cylinder mount for a beverage dispenser. The gas cylinder mount releasably mounts a water filter to the beverage dispenser using a rotating motion that does not require any tools. Aspects of the present disclosure also include a concentrate vial mount for a beverage dispenser. The concentrate vial releasably mounts a water filter to the beverage dispenser using a rotating motion that does not require any tools.

A method for operating a water dispenser, the water dispenser having a water supply, a carbon dioxide supply, an outlet for pouring water into a container placed below the outlet, a controller and a user interface, the method including the following steps, which are executed in response to an activation of the water dispenser via the user interface: determining a nominal value of a water volume (V) that is to be filled into the container determining a nominal value of a waiting period (WP) by means of the controller determining nominal values of a first partial volume (V1) and a second partial volume (V2) by means of the controller (V1+V2=V), in particular by determining a volume ratio (R) with R=V1/V for dividing the water volume (V) into the partial volumes (V1, V2) pouring the first partial volume (V1) through the outlet waiting through the waiting period (WP) pouring the second partial volume (V2) through the outlet.

A carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator with a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet. A backflow preventer module is fluidically coupled to the water inlet and comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter. The thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a heater to a temperature sensor by a flow of a fluid through the backflow preventer module. A shut-off valve is fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and a nozzle. The shut-off valve is configured to allow or prevent fluid flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle base on a control signal. A controller is configured to detect a backflow condition based on the first signal and generate the control signal to configure the shut-off valve to prevent dispensing carbonated water upon detection of the backflow condition.

A refill station for refillable carbonation containers is disclosed. Exemplary implementations may include a refill station housing, a refill tank, a control interface, a conduit, a controllable refill valve, and/or other components. The refill tank of the refill station holds a pressurized liquid, such as CO.sub.2. The refill station housing holds a carbonation container, such as a bottle, which includes a container tank. A user can control filling or refilling the container tank from the refill tank.

Non-electric fountain beverage dispensers for dispensing a variety of beverages without the use of electricity. The non-electric fountain beverage dispenser may include a gas container for storing a pressurized gas, a base liquid storage container for storing a base liquid, and a gas supply line that communicates pressurized gas from the gas container to the base liquid storage container and to a syrup storage container. Non-electric beverage dispenser further includes a mechanical dispensing valve in fluid communication with the base liquid storage container and the syrup storage container by means of a base liquid supply line and a syrup supply line, respectively, such that the mechanical dispensing valve is capable of selectively dispensing a mixture of the base liquid and the syrup. Non-electric fountain beverage dispenser further includes a non-electric cooling unit for cooling the base liquid without the use of electricity.

Beverage dispensers are disclosed. A beverage dispenser may include a carbonation pump, pressure tank, and a pressure switch configured to active the pressure pump when a pressure in the pressure tank falls below a threshold pressure. The pressure switch may cause the carbonation pump to shut off when the pressure in the pressure tank exceeds an upper threshold pressure. The beverage dispenser may be convertible from a carbonated beverage dispenser to a non-carbonated beverage dispenser.

The present invention is directed generally to the field carbonated beverage dispensing systems having a replaceable carbon dioxide storage cylinder. Such systems may be embodied in the form of a unitary apparatus including, but not exclusively, on-bench, under-bench or freestanding beverage cooling units. The invention may be embodied in the form of a beverage dispensing unit having a gas input connector configured to make gas tight connection to a gas container configured to hold a gas under pressure and a mass detection device. The gas input connector and mass detection device are arranged such that when a gas container is connected to the gas input connector, the mass detection device is capable of detecting a mass associated with the gas container. The unit may further have a gas container support extending from or about the mass detection device configured to maintain a gas container connected to the gas input connector in a position such that it bears on the mass detection device so as to allow the mass detection device to measure the mass of the gas container and any gas contained therein. Computer-implemented methods for monitoring the level of gas are also provided.

A gas liquid absorption device (GLAD), featuring a gas inlet manifold, a liquid inlet manifold and a gas/liquid mixing foamer. The gas inlet manifold has a gas inlet configured to receive and provide an inlet gas, and also has a gas foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the gas inlet to receive the inlet gas. The liquid inlet manifold has a liquid inlet configured to receive and provide a non-infused liquid, and also has a liquid foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the liquid inlet to receive the non-infused liquid. The gas/liquid mixing foamer is configured between the gas inlet manifold and the liquid inlet manifold and arranged in the gas foamer cavity and the liquid foamer cavity. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a gas foamer wall configured to form a gas receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the gas foamer cavity. The gas foamer wall has gas provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed inlet gas from the gas receiving foamer chamber. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a liquid foamer wall configured to form a liquid receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the liquid foamer cavity. The liquid foamer wall having liquid provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed non-infused liquid from the liquid receiving foamer chamber. The mixing chamber is configured to receive the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, infuse the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, and provide a foamed gas/liquid mixture from the mixing chamber.

Provided is a gas valve, particularly configured for use in a water carbonation system or appliance; and further provided is a system or appliance including such a valve.

Non-electric fountain beverage dispensers for dispensing a variety of beverages without the use of electricity. The non-electric fountain beverage dispenser may include a gas container for storing a pressurized gas, a base liquid storage container for storing a base liquid, and a gas supply line that communicates pressurized gas from the gas container to the base liquid storage container and to a syrup storage container. Non-electric beverage dispenser further includes a mechanical dispensing valve in fluid communication with the base liquid storage container and the syrup storage container by means of a base liquid supply line and a syrup supply line, respectively, such that the mechanical dispensing valve is capable of selectively dispensing a mixture of the base liquid and the syrup. Non-electric fountain beverage dispenser further includes a non-electric cooling unit for cooling the base liquid without the use of electricity.