A refrigerator includes a beverage preparation module, the beverage preparation module includes a storage portion, an ice water portion, a carbonated water portion, and an output portion. The storage portion for placing ingredients to prepare beverages of different flavors; the ice water portion for providing ice water; the carbonated water portion for obtaining ice water from the ice water portion and preparing carbonated water based on the ice water; and the output portion connected to the ice water part and/or the carbonated water part, for controlling the flow of carbonated water or ice water through the storage portion to dispense beverages of different flavors.

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.

Various systems, devices, and methods for a ratchet system for a gas canister in a beverage system are provided. In general, a beverage system is configured to form a beverage and dispense the beverage into a container. The beverage system can be a carbonation system configured to form a carbonated fluid and dispense the carbonated fluid into a container. In an exemplary embodiment, the beverage system includes a ratchet system configured to provide feedback to a user indicating that a gas source, such as a CO.sub.2 canister for a carbonation system, has been properly coupled to the beverage system. The feedback is configured to be provided to the user automatically in response to the gas source being properly coupled to the beverage system.

A carbonation device (100) for carbonating a beverage in a container (200), the carbonation device (100) comprising: a head portion (114b) for sealably receiving a mouth portion (220) of the container (200), the head portion (114b) having an infuser (120) that is operable to inject carbon dioxide into the container (200) via the mouth (220) of the container (200); and an engagement feature (173) with which the container (200) can be configured to securably locate the container (200) with respect to the head portion (114b) in: an injection configuration in which the mouth portion (220) of the container (200) is substantially sealed with respect to the infuser (120) so that the infuser (120) can inject carbon dioxide into the container (200) to carbonate the beverage in the container; and a depressurisation configuration in which the mouth portion (220) of the container (200) is partially unsealed with respect to the infuser (120) to allow for depressurization of the container (200).

A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a carbonation tank, a carbonator jacket, a cold water line, and an ice bin. The carbonation tank may define a tank volume, a water inlet upstream from the tank volume, a carbon dioxide inlet upstream from the tank volume, and a carbonated water outlet downstream from the tank volume. The carbonator jacket may define a jacket volume disposed about the carbonation tank. The cold water line may extend to the carbonator jacket in upstream fluid communication with the tank volume to direct a cold water flow to the tank volume. The ice bin may be spaced apart from the carbonation tank. The ice bin may define a drain aperture upstream from the cold water line to direct melt water thereto.

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 invention relates to a metering device for adjusting and/or controlling a gas flow, characterised in that the metering device comprises an electrically controllable valve, wherein the gas flow through the metering device can be adjusted and/or controlled by means of the electrically controllable valve,wherein the metering device has a pressure sensor, wherein a gas pressure difference across a gas-outlet opening in the metering device can be measured by means of the pressure sensor, wherein the electrically controllable valve can be adjusted according to the measured gas pressure difference; and/orwherein the metering device comprises an adjustable pressure-control device, wherein a maximum gas pressure difference between an inlet region of the metering device and an outlet region of the metering device can be set by means of the adjustable pressure-control device, wherein the gas flow through the metering device, which gas flow can be adjusted by means of the electrically controllable valve, is limited by the maximum gas pressure difference between the inlet region of the metering device and the outlet region of the metering device which is set by means of the adjustable pressure-control device.

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.

Various systems, devices, and methods for a ratchet system for a gas canister in a beverage system are provided. In general, a beverage system is configured to form a beverage and dispense the beverage into a container. The beverage system can be a carbonation system configured to form a carbonated fluid and dispense the carbonated fluid into a container. In an exemplary embodiment, the beverage system includes a ratchet system configured to provide feedback to a user indicating that a gas source, such as a CO.sub.2 canister for a carbonation system, has been properly coupled to the beverage system. The feedback is configured to be provided to the user automatically in response to the gas source being properly coupled to the beverage system.