The present invention is directed to a portable container for a beverage, such as beer, from a Sixth barrel or Cornelius keg. The portable container is specifically designed for storing, cooling, transporting and dispensing a beverage, such as beer. The portable container has a self-contained container of CO.sub.2, a regulator, and a tap for the keg.

Apparatus and systems for melting and liquefying chocolate. In one aspect, a system includes a generally fluid-tight exterior housing defining a first volume; a bulkhead positioned within the housing and dividing the first volume into separate second and third volumes; at least one vertical support member operationally connected to the exterior housing; a base support member operationally connected to the vertical support member; a dispenser guiding member disposed within the first volume and operationally connected to the exterior housing; and a heating element in thermal communication with the first volume, wherein energization heats the first volume to 37 to 46 degrees Celsius. Other aspects include where the liquid chocolate contains less than 3% water; where the liquid chocolate is solid at room temperature; a multiple pivot hinge; and a noninterfering interdigitating hinge.

Systems for filling and dispensing free-flowing contents into and out of a container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom, a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top, an ice portal disposed in the top, the ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber with ice, a removable container cap, a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between a beverage bag and a gate valve above the container cap, an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube, an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose, the air bag being adjacent to the beverage bag, such that a volume between the bags and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls is the ice chamber, and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a side of the gate valve.

A pressure relief valve assembly may include a housing having an inner lumen, a pin configured to engage the housing, and a spring coupled to the pin. The spring may bias the pin in a closed position relative to the inner lumen of the housing and axially extend when the pin is adjusted from the closed position to an opened position.

Methods for treating and preparing chocolate. In one aspect, a method includes heating a quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 46 degrees Celsius; decreasing the pressure of in a pressure-controllable environment to about 25 Torr; holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 25 Torr for a first predetermined period of time; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a second predetermined period of time. Other aspects include ceasing heating the quantity of chocolate; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 150 Torr per minute; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 4 Torr per minute; and others.

An apparatus for autonomously cooking a food product and dispensing said food product into a container, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a plurality of cooling chambers, a plurality of cooking chambers, a plurality of storage chambers, a plurality of primary dispensing chambers, and a plurality of secondary dispensing chambers disposed in a column arrangement within the apparatus; at least one food container disposed within at least one of the plurality of cooling chambers; a plurality of mixer augers disposed within the at least one food container; a series of induction plates adapted to be heated by a series of induction energizers, the series of induction plates and induction energizers being associated with each cooking chamber; and roller conveyor tables disposed throughout the pluralities of primary and secondary dispensing chambers, the roller conveyor tables being adapted to traverse the container such that to receive the cooked food product.

A device for storing and circulating drinking water with vortex flow includes a base, a tank and an actuator housed in the base and configured to circulate the drinking water stored in the tank with vortex flow. The base includes an inlet port through which the drinking water is received and an outlet port through which the drinking water is dispensed. The tank is mounted on the base with a sealed engagement and is configured to store the drinking water. The tank has spherical or egg shape and includes an air inlet on an upper portion of the tank through which air can flow in and out of the tank.

A container for storing, shipping and dispensing a beverage comprises a generally rectilinear body defining an interior volume and having, a generally planar front side, a generally planar rear side, a generally planar first lateral side, and a generally planar second lateral side, and plural curvilinear corner portions, and a top, and a bottom, and a tap coupler anchor defining a spear hole that communicates with the interior volume, and the tap coupler anchor releasably engages with a dispensing coupler which fluidically communicates with the spear hole to dispense the beverage from within the interior volume of the generally rectilinear body.

A system for carbonating fluid is provided comprising a gas supply and a fluid vessel for carbonating fluid, the fluid vessel having at least one internal surface for obstructing a return path of the gas to an upper surface of the fluid after injection. A retainer retains the fluid vessel relative to the gas supply and a gas injector injects gas from the gas supply into the fluid vessel. During use, the gas injector injects gas below a fluid level within the fluid vessel.

The present invention provides a beverage preservation keg with an adjustable beer tap, including a shell, an inner container, and a gas-liquid control device; the inner container includes an upper gas storage chamber and a lower beer storage chamber; the gas-liquid control device includes a keg spear, a dispenser and a beer discharge pipe; the keg spear matches and communicates with the gas storage chamber and the beer storage chamber, and the top end of the keg spear matches and is connected to the dispenser; the dispenser is connected to the matching beer discharge pipe. The present invention has the function of adjusting the beer flow rate, and the keg spear is provided with a pressure relief valve, which eliminates the need for a gas tube and a separate pressure relief valve to connect the keg spear to the gas storage chamber in series.