A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a water tank, a water supply line connected to the water tank and having a water pump for pumping water from the water tank to a water outlet at a distal end of the water supply line, wherein the water outlet is connectable to a beverage ingredient container, a pressure sensor connected to the water supply line at a position upstream of the water outlet, and a controller configured to receive an output from the pressure sensor indicative of the pressure at the position upstream of the water outlet and to determine an estimated pressure at the water outlet based on the received output and a flow rate of water through the water supply line.

A fluid pressurization and dispensing system, including a coupler releasably attached to a vessel via an attachment means for securing a vacuum seal between the coupler and the vessel for maintaining pressure within the vessel, refreshing the gas composition within the vessel, and dispensing of a fluid contents externally from within the vessel without disturbing the vacuum seal. The coupler has a rigid single body unit having a tap head, a shank, and a cap which are contiguous thereof the coupler including a plurality of channels each integrally machined within an interior portion of the coupler. The system regulates a flow of gas from a pressurized gas cartridge via a gas pressure regulator, enables venting excess gas via a gas pressure relief valve, enables measurement of gas pressure within the vessel via a gas pressure gauge. Another embodiment of the system includes a coupler including a bi-level tap head.

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 fluid container system comprises a bottle having bellows and being moveable from an extended position to dispense the fluid to a compressed position with a smaller internal volume than when in the extended position. The fluid container may also include a bladder housed within the bottle for storing the fluid; a valve demountably engageable to the bottle and the bladder, and the valve is capable of being closed to prevent the flow of the fluid and gas, or opened to dispense the fluid and gas. The fluid container may also comprise top and bottom endplates that support the bottle.

A water dispenser and a method of controlling a water dispenser are provided. The water dispenser may control power output of an induction heater having a hot water module based on changes in flow rate of water supplied or a temperature of water discharged.

A fluid line monitoring and control assembly for detecting foaming and terminating flow in a beverage line includes a valve and a flow meter, which are insertable in-line with a conduit connecting a storage vessel to a dispensing tap, such that the valve is positioned proximate to the storage vessel. The valve can close the conduit to prevent flow of a beverage therethrough. The flow meter quantifies flow and can detect at least one parameter indicative of each of a liquid state and a foam state of the beverage and generates first and second signals, corresponding thereto. A controller receives the first signal and the second signal from the flow meter. Foam in line programming code positioned on the controller enables the controller to selectively actuate the valve to close the conduit upon receipt of the second signal. The valve limits flow of the beverage in the foam state past the valve.

The present invention provides a valve device (1) for a container (100) for supplying and dispensing gaseous beverages, comprising a main valve body (1) connected to said container (100) by means of a connecting member (101), said main valve body (1) comprising a supplying and 0 dispensing port (10) of said beverages to/from said container (100), sealing means (2) arranged onto said dispensing port (10), elastic means (3) cooperating with said sealing means (2), beverage dispensing means (4) arranged internally to said main body (1), and pressure controlling means (5,40,41) for controlling a pressure threshold value within said container (100), the valve device it is characterized in that said dispensing means (4) and said pressure threshold value control means (5,40,41) comprises a single member (4,40,41) mounted in a movable manner inside said valve device (1), the arrangement being such that said dispensing means (4) are movable from a first position wherein they cooperate with said sealing means (2) for sealing the gaseous beverage within said container (100), and a second position wherein the gas is spilled out from the container (100) upon exceeding a preset threshold pressure value of gas within said container (100).

A stretch blow moulded container such as a keg has a neck 3 fitted with a cap 4 to retain pressurised contents within the container. A miniature pressure relief valve (PRV) 30-33 is contained within the wall thickness of the neck to release gases on the occurrence of an overpressure event. The PRV may incorporate a bursting element, which renders the containers unusable, or a spring-loaded seal 30 which re-seals after the release of excess pressure. The PRV may also be permanently changed to an open condition by removal of the cap, preventing re-use of the container.

A receptacle for storing, pressurizing, and dispensing packaged beverages. The receptacle includes an airtight chamber with a removable lid, wherein the joint between the lid and the chamber is also airtight. A gas valve allows for the inflow and outflow of gas, and a tap port and tap stem allow the beverage to be dispensed without breaking the seal of the chamber. A pressure relief valve allows for more rapid depressurization. The chamber can be used at high and low pressures, such as a partial vacuum, to prevent oxidation of a number of open beverages, such as beers, wines, and sodas. A pressure gauge port coupled with an optional pressure gauge allows a user to verify the appropriate pressure for the type of beverage being preserved. The gas valve may be disposed on a base of the receptacle, as may the pressure relief and/or the pressure gauge port.

A system prepares and dispenses non gas-infused and gas-infused beverages including a gas source, a pressurizable container connected to the gas source to receive a first flow of gas, a gas infusion tank connected to the gas source to receive a second flow of gas, a first dispensing tap that receives a portion of preprocessed beverage stored in the pressurizable container that flows under pressure from a portion of the first flow of gas to dispense a non gas-infused beverage from the first dispensing tap, and a second dispensing tap that receives gas-infused beverage from the gas infusion vessel to dispense the gas-infused beverage by the second dispensing tap, the gas-infused tank receiving a portion of the preprocessed beverage from the pressurizable container to infuse the preprocessed beverage in the gas infusion vessel with at least a portion of the second flow of gas.