The present invention relates to a degassing system (1, 23) with a control device (17, 36), a degassing tank (2, 24) with a first space area (3, 25) configured for having liquid introduced therein and a second space area (4, 26) configured for having the liquid from the first space area (3, 25) introduced therein. The first and the second space area are partially separated from one another by a separation element (5, 27). A controllable pump (15, 34) is provided, which pumps liquid from the first space area to the second space area for a two-stage vacuum degassing process, when the pump is operated. The control device controls the pump such that the pump will not be operated for a single-stage vacuum degassing process and will be operated for a two-stage vacuum degassing process. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of executing a degassing process of a liquid making use of a degassing system according to the present invention. In addition, the present invention relates to a beverage treatment machine comprising the degassing system and a filling plant arranged downstream of the degassing system.

Devices for carbonating drinking water are disclosed. The devices include a container that is configured to hold a volume of carbonated drinking water; a CO.sub.2 gas supply line that is configured to deliver CO.sub.2 gas to the volume of carbonated drinking water within the container; and a variable speed electric motor located outside of and adjacent to an external surface of the container. In addition, the devices include a turbine type impeller that is magnetically coupled to and driven by the variable speed electric motor. The turbine type impeller is configured to rotate at variable speeds and spray carbonated drinking water transferred from a bottom portion of the container into an air space located above the volume of carbonated drinking water and the top internal surface of the container.

A gas infusion tank for a beverage machine includes a tank body defining a holding space for accommodating beverages. A mixing element includes a mixing chamber, an ascending pipe, and a descending pipe. A top of the ascending pipe is fluidly connected to the mixing chamber and a bottom of the ascending pipe has a liquid inlet. The liquid inlet is fluidly connected to the holding space. A top of the descending pipe is fluidly connected to the mixing chamber and a bottom of the descending pipe includes a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the nozzle. A gas intake hole connects the holding space with the mixing chamber.

Described herein is an example of a nozzle that can include a metal tip having a first end and a second end. The metal tip can also define a conduit extending from the first end towards the second end. The conduit can include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the conduit is defined by at least one first interior surface of the metal tip extending from the first end. The first portion of the conduit can exhibit a substantially constant diameter and a first length. The second portion of the conduit is defined by at least one second interior surface of the metal tip extending from the first portion for a second length. The second portion can exhibit a diameter that generally increases with distance from the first portion and can exhibit a generally truncated conical shape exhibiting an open angle.

A system or method for carbonating a liquid includes receiving, in a sealed container of a carbonator of a drink dispenser system, a predetermined amount of liquid, identifying a predetermined carbonation level associated with a flavoring material, and setting a target pressure of the sealed container based on the predetermined carbonation level. The target pressure is selected from a plurality of different target pressures. The system or method also can include releasing pressurized carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source into the sealed container holding the predetermined amount of the liquid therein until an internal pressure of the sealed container is substantially equal to the target pressure. The system or method can also include dispensing, into a drink container, the flavoring material and the liquid from the sealed container of the carbonator.

A carbonation system for a beverage appliance or machine that can include a liquid chamber and a carbonation chamber separated from the liquid chamber by a wall of the carbonation chamber is disclosed herein. In some implementations, the liquid chamber is defined by a liquid tank (e.g., a water tank), and the carbonation chamber is defined by a carbonation tank. The carbonation system can move liquid (e.g., water) from the liquid chamber to the carbonation chamber and introduce carbonating gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) into the carbonation chamber to create a carbonated liquid (e.g., a carbon dioxide water dissolution, such as carbonated water, sparkling water, or seltzer).

A beverage containment, carbonation and serving system and method whereby the system is limited dimensionally to be placed and used inside of and fit within a standard shelving space of a conventional refrigerator. The beverage containment, carbonation and serving system and method comprises a horizontally positioned vessel, a vessel base, gas inlet and liquid outlet ports, a liquid dip tube extending from the outlet port of the vessel to the intersecting point of the vessel bottom and the opposite vessel end, an integral faucet with a vertically low-profile activation handle and an interlocking removable drip tray at one end of the vessel for liquid serving purposes.

Provided is a gas dissolving device capable of dissolving gas in a liquid in a supersaturated state and maintaining such a saturated state in a stable manner, and being easily attached to a water server or the like. The gas dissolving device generates hydrogen water by dissolving hydrogen in water, and discharges the hydrogen water from an outlet. The gas dissolving device includes a dissolving chamber that stores under pressure generated hydrogen water introduced therein, and pressure reduction and transfer means for preventing pressure variation in a tube-shaped passage that connects the dissolving tank and the outlet due to an action of discharging the hydrogen water from the outlet, and for forming a laminar flow.

Beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a container and a tapping apparatus having a chamber in which the container fits and can be entered into through an opening closable by a lid, such that the container is enclosed between the lid and an opposite end of a chamber, wherein spaced apart from the lid and preferably at said opposite end of the chamber a first connector is provided, for feeding pressurised gas into the container through a gas inlet provided in the container, and at the side of the opening of the chamber a pressure element is provided for pressing the container with the gas inlet onto the first connector.

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A carbon dioxide source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate carbon dioxide gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the carbon dioxide source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the carbon dioxide source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making carbonated beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.